Kuaikeji, June 10 – Recently, China successfully launched the first direct phone-to-satellite test satellite of Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. and China Mobile's "China Mobile 02" satellite into their intended orbits using the Zhuque-2 modified remote six carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, marking a complete success for the mission.

According to China Mobile's official introduction, the two satellites are primarily used for conducting technical test validations such as direct phone-to-satellite connection and the integration of terrestrial and space networks.

Earlier, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology guided the completion of domestic frequency coordination for the relevant satellites, issued space radio station licenses and radio frequency usage permits, providing strong support for the smooth launch of the aforementioned satellites.

Unlike narrowband communications such as Beidou short messaging and Tiantong satellite voice, these two test satellites will validate the technology that allows ordinary 5G phones to connect directly to satellites without modification or external antennas, solely through software upgrades.

With a theoretical peak downlink rate of 100Mbps and latency within 50ms, they can support broadband services such as video calls and high-definition video playback, truly enabling "video watching without terrestrial signals."

The technical principle is akin to taking base stations to space. Traditional satellite communications require dedicated terminals, whereas direct phone-to-satellite (DTC) technology disguises satellites as terrestrial 5G base stations, allowing phones to directly access space-based networks.

It also validates seamless integration of terrestrial and space networks, enabling users to switch between terrestrial and satellite signals without perception, achieving "space complementing terrestrial."

It is predicted that by 2030, the number of monthly active users for global direct satellite services will reach 411 million, with revenue approaching $12 billion, representing a vast market.