Chinese Firm Completes Direct-to-Cell Satellite Call Trial

A Chinese satellite internet company has achieved a significant technological milestone by successfully completing a direct-to-satellite voice call trial using a standard, unmodified commercial smartphone. Shanghai-based Spacesail announced on Friday that this marks the first trial of its kind in China, revealing that the entire communication link remained smooth and stable during testing, producing excellent voice quality. Earlier this month, China launched a Zhuque-2E carrier rocket carrying two satellites, including the Spacesail DTC 01. Spacesail’s test satellite is designed to verify key technologies for direct-to-cell services and integrated space-ground networks, supporting the convergence of satellite communications with 5G and 6G networks. According to the company, its direct-to-cell technology requires no hardware or software modifications to standard commercial smartphones, and field tests demonstrated full signal strength with voice quality equivalent to terrestrial 5G. The high compatibility with existing cellular networks paves the way for deeply integrated space-ground communications. As of 5 June, the Spacesail Constellation has expanded to encompass 200 satellites.