T-Mobile taps Starlink to cover 500,000+ new miles
T-Mobile will commercially launch its Starlink-powered T-Satellite service nationwide on July 23, offering satellite texting to T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T customers with compatible devices for $10 per month.
T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service is currently undergoing beta testing, with an official commercial launch scheduled for July 23. This service aims to extend mobile connectivity by utilizing Starlink satellites, providing coverage in areas traditionally inaccessible by cellular towers. T-Mobile indicated that this partnership with Starlink will enable connectivity across an additional 500,000 square miles of U.S. territory, specifically targeting dead zones.
The company stated it is the first U.S. wireless provider to establish a satellite-to-mobile network that automatically connects with most smartphones manufactured within the last four years, without requiring specialized equipment or setup.
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Beginning July 23, T-Satellite users will be able to send SMS text messages via satellite. Android users will also gain access to MMS, picture messaging, and short audio clips from this date, with iOS support for these additional features to be implemented subsequently. A data-based service will be introduced on October 1, allowing users to access select applications via satellite.
T-Mobile anticipates that “satellite enabled apps from AccuWeather, AllTrails, Apple, Google, WhatsApp, and X” will be supported, with further applications to follow. The T-Satellite service will also incorporate 911 emergency texting capabilities via satellite. This 911 texting feature will later be made available to all individuals possessing a compatible phone, including non-subscribers and customers utilizing alternative carriers.
A free beta program for text support was initiated in January and later extended to include Verizon and AT&T customers. T-Mobile reported that 1.8 million users are currently enrolled in this beta program. For T-Mobile customers subscribed to the T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan, which costs approximately $100 per month for a single phone line, the T-Satellite service is included without additional charges.
However, T-Mobile users on other service plans, along with Verizon and AT&T customers, can subscribe to T-Satellite for a monthly fee of $10. During the initial phase of the beta program, T-Mobile charged its own customers $15 per month as an add-on for the service, while Verizon and AT&T customers were charged $20 per month.