[Zero-Knowledge Employee Bets on Space #17] The Day Smartphones Connect to Space, and Data Centers Float in Orbit

■ SpaceX is already working on the 'next' step in communication

Up until now, we have focused on the 'communication' aspect of Starlink. However, SpaceX has already stepped into the next phase beyond that communication. In this installment, we will look at these two developments that have not yet received much attention.

■ Starlink Direct to Cell: Connecting to space with just one smartphone

Honestly, many people may not yet be familiar with the technology called 'Direct to Cell.' However, this is a service that has already quietly begun in our daily lives.

Conventional satellite communication required dedicated large terminals or parabolic antennas. However, with Direct to Cell, the ordinary smartphone you are using right now connects directly to satellites. As of early 2026, SpaceX has already deployed over 650 compatible satellites into orbit, making it the largest 4G network on Earth in terms of coverage area. It is operational in 22 countries worldwide, with over 400 million people already able to access it, and they expect to provide it to over 1.7 billion people eventually.

In Japan, KDDI launched it ahead of others in April 2025, SoftBank launched the service on April 10, 2026, and Docomo on April 27, 2026. Now, all three major carriers support it. When you are in the mountains outside of service range, your smartphone display changes to 'SpaceX' and you receive an SMS. The biggest point is that you no longer need to carry a dedicated satellite phone.

■ What does this mean for developing countries?

The true significance of this Direct to Cell is actually not in countries with well-established communication infrastructure like Japan, but in regions where communication infrastructure has not yet reached.

In regions where it previously cost a fortune just to build a single cell tower, communication will suddenly become available as long as you have an existing smartphone. You can get the latest communication network immediately without building a single base station. I understand this as an 'infrastructure leap' similar to how mobile phones spread rapidly in emerging countries in the past, skipping the era of landline telephones, now happening with communication itself.

■ Orbital Data Center Concept: The 'AI1' Monster Satellite

However, what SpaceX is working on is not just about communication. The detailed design for 'AI1,' the first unit of the 'orbital data center' concept mentioned in a previous article, was unveiled in June 2026.

With its wings spread, the total width is about 70 meters. It is a giant body larger than a Boeing 747 (about 68 meters). The concept is to demonstrate computing power of 120kW on average and 150kW at peak while flying in an orbit at an altitude of about 600km, and Musk describes this as 'one rack of computers floating in space.' It is also equipped with a mechanism to deploy 110 square meters of liquid radiators to dissipate heat.

What is interesting is that Musk himself says, 'No special magical new technology is needed.' It seems that many parts are diverted from technologies already proven in Starlink V3 satellites. To mass-produce these satellites, a massive factory called 'Gigasat' of about 1 million square meters (about 23 times the size of the Tokyo Dome) is under construction in Bastrop, Texas, aiming for operation by the end of 2027, with plans to produce over 1,000 units per year. SpaceX has applied to the FCC to eventually launch up to 1 million such satellites.

■ However, there are also skeptical voices

However, there are naturally skeptical views regarding such a grand plan. According to reports from overseas media, SpaceX itself has explicitly stated in its IPO prospectus (S-1) that there is a risk that an AI data center in orbit may not be feasible.

In outer space, there are times when the satellite enters the Earth's shadow, so solar power generation is not always possible. Not all of the power obtained can be used for computing; it must also be allocated to attitude control, communication, and propulsion systems for orbital maintenance. Furthermore, as the number of satellites increases, the risk of collision with space debris, which we covered in a previous article, naturally increases as well. There are deep-seated skeptical voices among experts about whether these barriers can truly be overcome, including costs, radiation, and communication latency.

■ Summary: Growth potential not yet priced in

Direct to Cell, where smartphones connect directly to space. And the orbital data center concept that floats computers in outer space. Both are stories at a stage that many people do not yet know about or view with skepticism.

However, it may be precisely at this stage of being 'not yet widely known' and 'still viewed with skepticism' that there is growth potential not yet priced into the market. Whether it will be realized or not will be proven by future technology and time. I would like to continue following these developments.

*This article is based on the author's personal views and experiences and does not recommend the buying or selling of any specific stocks. Please always make investment decisions based on your own judgment and responsibility.