Salt and Starlink ink coverage deal

Swiss full-service provider Salt has signed an agreement with Starlink, the satellite connectivity division of SpaceX. Under the agreement, which Salt claims is the first of its kind in Europe, Starlink will provide continuous coverage throughout Switzerland to Salt’s mobile customers, supporting connectivity in remote locations and redundant coverage in emergencies. In addition, the pair plan to enable direct connectivity whilst roaming abroad through reciprocal agreements with other carriers. Users will not need to change or update their equipment or software to utilise the service with, which will be provided at no additional cost for premium subscribers and as an ‘affordable and available’ add-on option to other customers. Describing the advantages of the system, Salt notes that the solution ends ‘the struggle to cover the challenging Swiss terrain and topography, including mountains, valleys, and rural areas such as the Great Aletsch Glacier area in Valais and the Canton of the Grisons.’ Regarding the timeline for the launch of the service, Salt added: ‘Starting in 2024, customers will be able to stay connected and share their experiences from almost anywhere through text messaging. The service will expand to include voice and data coverage in 2025.’