Fibocom, a Chinese wireless communication module maker, says two of its LTE Cat.1 bis modules connected to SpaceX’s Direct to Cell (DTC) satellite network during live-network testing in New Zealand. The company published a field test report on 8 November 2026 from Auckland, distributed by PR Newswire, covering the LE270-EU and LE271-GL modules.
According to the release, both modules registered on the network, established IP data sessions and transmitted data over the satellite link using standard firmware and without satellite-specific hardware modifications. Fibocom says it tested outdoors, in a vehicle and indoors.
Key facts
- Modules tested: Fibocom LE270-EU and LE271-GL, both LTE Cat.1 bis.
- Network: SpaceX Direct to Cell, tested live in New Zealand.
- Outdoor and in-vehicle downlink with good sky visibility: about 2.2 Mbps on the LE270-EU and about 2.0 Mbps on the LE271-GL, per Fibocom.
- Uplink: around 0.3 Mbps on both modules.
- Network registration: approximately 1–30 seconds, with ping response rates of 80% to 90%.
- Indoors, in a hotel room with obstructed sky visibility: downlink fell to about 0.5 Mbps in some scenarios, with ping response around 65%–70%.
Why it matters
Fibocom frames the test around a single question for device makers: whether existing LTE designs can be extended to satellite without dedicated satellite communication hardware. The company says adding satellite capability has traditionally brought extra hardware requirements, power consumption and development costs.
It argues the results create an opening for OEMs to try satellite-enabled IoT while keeping their current LTE hardware architecture, which it says could reduce the complexity of adding satellite links to established designs. Most public attention on DTC has gone to consumer handsets, including questions over pricing: Starlink Mobile is set for the first half of 2028, with no price announced yet.
What the field test measured
Open sky
Under open-sky conditions, Fibocom says both modules established satellite data connections and showed practical data throughput. The company also says the modules could register and exchange data under weak-signal conditions, which it presents as evidence that standard LTE connectivity over a live satellite network is feasible.
Indoors
Performance varied more once sky visibility was obstructed, according to the release. Alongside the lower indoor throughput and ping rates, Fibocom says some data requests took noticeably longer to answer.
Energy cost
Uploading the same file over the satellite connection took roughly 1.5 to 1.8 times the energy used over a terrestrial cellular connection, Fibocom says. It attributes the increase mainly to longer transmission times, higher transmit current and data retransmissions, and says Power Saving Mode sleep current was unaffected.
How Fibocom describes Direct to Cell
In the release, Fibocom says SpaceX Direct to Cell extends the reach of cellular technology by putting LTE base station capabilities on low Earth orbit satellites and operating through partnerships with mobile network operators. Satellites can then serve as an additional connectivity option beyond terrestrial cell towers for compatible LTE devices that meet the relevant network access requirements.
That operator-partnership model is the same architecture behind SpaceX’s wider direct-to-device plans, including Starlink Mobile’s award of 15,000 satellites and purchase of 800 MHz of spectrum, and it is the ground on which rival direct-to-device efforts such as the AT&T-AST satellite call handoff are competing.
What Fibocom says comes next
The company says the testing gave it engineering insight into satellite network access, data transmission and performance across environments. It says it is continuing to optimise DTC firmware compatibility for the LE270 and LE271 series, focusing on network registration efficiency and connection resilience, to support manufacturers working on asset tracking and remote monitoring.
Company background and what the sources do not say
Fibocom was founded in 1999 and describes itself as China’s first wireless communication module company listed on both the A-share and H-share markets. Its stated product range spans cellular, AI, automotive and GNSS modules plus AI toolchains and cloud services.
The same announcement was carried by Yahoo Finance and by Vietnam Investment Review. The two differ on the dateline: PR Newswire and Yahoo Finance date it 8 November 2026, while Vietnam Investment Review’s copy carries 9 November 2026. None of the three includes comment from SpaceX, names the mobile network operator involved in New Zealand, gives a commercial launch date, or mentions availability or pricing in any other market, including anywhere in Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the modules need extra satellite hardware to work on Starlink Direct to Cell?
No. Fibocom said in its release, distributed by PR Newswire, that both modules used standard firmware and no satellite-specific hardware modifications. The company added that satellites can act as an extra connectivity option for compatible LTE devices that meet the relevant network access requirements.
What does Fibocom say battery-powered devices should do on a satellite link?
The company said low-power hardware has to be paired with an appropriate data reporting strategy. Per the release carried by Yahoo Finance, that means adjusting reporting intervals, buffering data during temporary connectivity interruptions and retrying transmissions once the link returns.
How big are the LE270 and LE271 modules?
Fibocom lists a form factor of 17.7 × 15.8 × 2.4 mm for the LE270 and LE271 series. The company also says Power Saving Mode current goes as low as 2.5 μA, and that the modules offer OpenCPU development and a range of peripheral interfaces.
Which uses did Fibocom point to for satellite IoT?
The company named asset trackers, environmental monitoring devices and agricultural monitoring, which it said typically send small amounts of data at regular intervals. For those cases, Fibocom said the priority is not necessarily matching terrestrial LTE speeds but having another path for location updates, device status and sensor readings when terrestrial coverage is unavailable.
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