US approves Starlink to restore cellphone coverage in hurricane-affected North Carolina

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has approved SpaceX and T-Mobile to use Starlink satellites for direct-to-cell coverage in North Carolina, following Hurricane Helene. This aims to restore cellphone service and provide emergency alerts as infrastructure is repaired. Previously, over 74% of cell towers were out of service in affected areas. That number has now decreased to 17% as recovery efforts continue. SpaceX has started broadcasting emergency alerts and may test basic texting capabilities for T-Mobile users. While the full constellation of Starlink satellites is not yet operational, the companies are moving forward to support connectivity in disaster-hit regions. T-Mobile plans to expand services to include voice and data in the future.