The Direct-to-Cell Network in Numbers: Setcoin's Satellite Catalogue Analysis
What does the public satellite catalogue show about how the first-generation direct-to-cell network was built?
Chapter summary
Setcoin's analysis of the CelesTrak satellite catalogue (SATCAT) as of 18 October 2026 identifies 663 satellites designated Starlink direct-to-cell launched between January 2024 and mid-2025 on 52 launch days, of which 637 remain in orbit and 26 have re-entered.
Key takeaways
- 1
All of the remaining satellites orbit at about 350–375 km, in two inclination groups of about 43 degrees (327 satellites) and 53 degrees (310 satellites).
- 2
The build-out was fast: 377 satellites in 2024 and 286 in the first half of 2025, after which SpaceX stopped launching first-generation direct-to-cell satellites, consistent with a shift to the next-generation system using the spectrum bought from EchoStar.
Key figures in this chapter
- 663
- launched on 52 launch days
- 26
- re-entered (~4%)
- ~357 km
- median altitude
- 2
- Chinese 'DTC test objects' launched June 2026
Source: Setcoin space engine (CelesTrak SATCAT), 18 Oct 2026
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Starlink Direct to Cell: The First Generation
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