Technologies
SpaceX Strikes Wireless Gold With EchoStar Sale. Expect Better Coverage With These Carriers
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has acquired $17 billion worth of EchoStar’s wireless spectrum, dramatically boosting Starlink’s satellite-to-cell coverage.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has acquired $17 billion worth of EchoStar’s wireless spectrum, the two companies announced on Monday. The coveted chunk of spectrum, which is used to transmit cellular data through the air, exists in the 1.9 and lower 2GHz spectrum bands. The news comes six weeks after SpaceX launched its satellite texting partnership T-Mobile, called T-Satellite.
SpaceX’s Starlink internet service is now poised to dramatically increase its direct-to-cell coverage, which allows users to text, call or use apps in remote areas outside the reach of cellular towers.
Out of Starlink’s 8,140 satellites in orbit, 657 belong to its first-generation direct-to-cell constellation. In a blog post heralding the deal, SpaceX says the deal will allow for more than 100 times the capacity it currently has.
The news is a huge boon to T-Mobile customers, who will be the main beneficiaries of Starlink’s spectrum grab in the US. AT&T and Verizon customers can also use Starlink’s satellite-to-cell texting for an extra $10 a month by using a second eSIM. You can find instructions on setting up the eSIM here.
“The most immediate beneficiary of SpaceX’s empowerment is its primary US partner, T-Mobile. The combination of T-Mobile’s extensive terrestrial 5G network and Starlink’s enhanced D2C [direct-to-cell] capabilities creates a hybrid network with a profound competitive advantage,” writes Roger Entner, a telecom analyst and founder of research firm Recon Analytics.
Ironically, the spectrum acquisition was ignited by a SpaceX complaint to the Federal Communications Commission in April, in which the company alleged that EchoStar “barely uses” the valuable spectrum. Less than a month later, FCC Chair Brendan Carr opened an investigation into how it was using its spectrum licenses.
EchoStar, which owns DISH, Boost Mobile and Hughesnet internet, had once hoped to become the nation’s fourth wireless carrier, following AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. As part of the deal, Boost Mobile customers will also have access to Starlink’s direct-to-cell network.
«In connection with the transaction, SpaceX and EchoStar will enter into a long-term commercial agreement, which will enable EchoStar’s Boost Mobile subscribers… to access SpaceX’s next generation Starlink Direct to Cell service,» EchoStar said in a statement.
The FCC investigation into EchoStar is now expected to be resolved after the company sold $23 billion of its spectrum to AT&T in a separate deal two weeks ago.
Starlink’s spectrum acquisition still needs to be approved in a complex regulatory environment. But if it does, it could spell the end of wireless dead zones as we know them.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Oct. 23 #599
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Oct. 23, No. 599.
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle might be Halloween-themed, as the answers are all rather dangerous. Some of them are a bit tough to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Please don’t eat me!
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Remember Mr. Yuk?
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- POND, NOON, NODE, BALE, SOCK, LOVE, LOCK, MOCK, LEER, REEL, GLOVE, DAIS, LEAN, LEAD, REEL
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- AZALEA, HEMLOCK, FOXGLOVE, OLEANDER, BELLADONNA
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is POISONOUS. To find it, look for the P that is the first letter on the far left of the top row, and wind down and across.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Oct. 23, #395
Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Oct. 23, No. 395.
Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition has one of those crazy purple categories, where you wonder if anyone saw the connection, or if people just put that grouping together because only those four words were left. If you’re struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Fan noise.
Green group hint: Strategies for hoops.
Blue group hint: Minor league.
Purple group hint: Look for a connection to hoops.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Sounds from the crowd.
Green group: Basketball offenses.
Blue group: Triple-A baseball teams.
Purple group: Ends with a basketball stat.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is sounds from the crowd. The four answers are boo, cheer, clap and whistle.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is basketball offenses. The four answers are motion, pick and roll, Princeton and triangle.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is triple-A baseball teams. The four answers are Aces, Jumbo Shrimp, Sounds and Storm Chasers.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is ends with a basketball stat. The four answers are afoul, bassist, counterpoint and sunblock.
Technologies
Amazon’s Delivery Drivers Will Soon Wear AI Smart Glasses to Work
The goal is to streamline the delivery process while keeping drivers safe.
Amazon announced on Wednesday that it is developing new AI-powered smart glasses to simplify the delivery experience for its drivers. CNET smart glasses expert Scott Stein mentioned this wearable rollout last month, and now the plan is in its final testing stages.
The goal is to simplify package delivery by reducing the need for drivers to look at their phones, the label on the package they’re delivering and their surroundings to find the correct address.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
A heads-up display will activate as soon as the driver parks, pointing out potential hazards and tasks that must be completed. From there, drivers can locate and scan packages, follow turn-by-turn directions and snap a photograph to prove delivery completion without needing to take out their phone.
The company is testing the glasses in select North American markets.
Watch: See our Instagram post with a video showing the glasses
A representative for Amazon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
To fight battery drain, the glasses pair with a controller attached to the employee’s delivery vest, allowing them to replace depleted batteries and access operational controls. The glasses will support an employee’s eyeglass prescription. An emergency button will be within reach to ensure the driver’s safety.
Amazon is already planning future versions of the glasses, which will feature «real-time defect detection,» notifying the driver if a package was delivered to the incorrect address. They plan to add features to the glasses to detect if pets are in the yard and adjust to low light.
-
Technologies3 года ago
Tech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
-
Technologies3 года ago
Best Handheld Game Console in 2023
-
Technologies3 года ago
Tighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
-
Technologies4 года ago
Verum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
-
Technologies4 года ago
Black Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
-
Technologies4 года ago
Google to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
-
Technologies4 года ago
Olivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger
-
Technologies4 года ago
iPhone 13 event: How to watch Apple’s big announcement tomorrow