A permanent connection to near-Earth satellites without any other ground-based systems is set to be reality soon. From simple surfing with a smartphone to real-time applications, numerous possibilities are conceivable.https://www.notebookcheck.net/Online-everywhere-World-s-first-direct-5G-connection-to-satellite-established.936678.0.html
How does this story relate to the direct-to-cell demonstrations that T-Mobile and Starlink have been conducting?
Starlink is using LTE protocol.
Huawei have a cellphone with satellite SMS, how are they not the first?
AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today's five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected.