T-Mobile subscribers will soon enjoy direct Starlink satellite internet access on their mobile phones, with other carriers to follow after the first year
In a significant advancement for mobile internet access, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that T-Mobile customers will be the first to receive direct mobile internet from Starlink satellites. This exclusive partnership, set to last for one year in the U.S., aims to eliminate dead zones and provide seamless connectivity.
After this period, other telecom carriers will also be able to offer the service to their users. This announcement coincided with SpaceX’s recent launch of 26 additional Starlink satellites, boosting its satellite internet coverage.
T-Mobile gets Starlink access in the U.S.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday to reveal that T-Mobile US Inc. subscribers in the U.S. would have exclusive access to Starlink's satellite-powered mobile internet for the first year. Musk wrote that Starlink’s direct-to-mobile phone internet would initially be available exclusively to T-Mobile users in the U.S. for the first year, with other carriers gaining access afterward. He added that SpaceX’s strategy was to partner with one carrier per country initially, to ultimately expand to serve all carriers.
This groundbreaking collaboration follows SpaceX’s launch of 26 new Starlink satellites equipped with direct-to-cell capabilities. These satellites were placed into low-Earth orbit, bringing the total number of Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell functionality to 160. According to SpaceX’s senior director of satellite engineering, Ben Longmier, T-Mobile will soon be able to claim full U.S. coverage, eliminating all dead zones by the end of the year.
SpaceX has deployed nearly 7,000 Starlink satellites, according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell. However, only select satellites are equipped with direct-to-cell capabilities. These specialized satellites feature a modem that functions as a cell tower in space, enabling users to send texts, make calls, and browse the internet on standard LTE phones without needing additional hardware or software.
T-Mobile and SpaceX first announced their partnership in August 2022, to provide coverage in remote areas where traditional cellular signals have historically been unavailable. The deal is particularly important for regions in the U.S. that are often left out of reliable network service due to geographical limitations.
Beyond the U.S., other telecom providers around the globe are also looking to tap into the potential of Starlink's satellite internet. Providers like Optus in Australia, Rogers in Canada, and KDDI in Japan have already signed similar agreements with SpaceX to bring satellite connectivity to their customers.
Texting in 2024, full services by 2025
As part of the partnership, SpaceX plans to begin rolling out satellite-powered texting services by the end of 2024. This will be followed by voice calling, data services, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) connectivity in 2025. The use of Starlink’s satellites could revolutionize mobile service by enabling users to stay connected even in the most remote areas, including places traditionally lacking any signal at all.
Longmier was optimistic about the future of the partnership, stating that T-Mobile would be able to provide U.S. customers with continuous connectivity without the dead zones that currently affect many rural areas.
While T-Mobile subscribers will enjoy Starlink’s direct-to-mobile internet first, Musk emphasized that SpaceX’s long-term goal is to make the service available through other carriers globally. "We are starting off working with one carrier in each country, but ultimately hope to serve all carriers," Musk noted.
This suggests that while T-Mobile holds exclusive rights in the U.S. for the first year, other telecom providers in the U.S. and worldwide will eventually gain access to Starlink’s satellite internet service. The move has the potential to reshape the global mobile internet landscape, offering unprecedented access in previously unreachable locations.
Starlink’s direct-to-cell service aims to provide global coverage by leveraging its satellite constellation, making connectivity more accessible and reliable for people in both urban and remote areas. As SpaceX continues to add more satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities, mobile users around the world could soon experience a revolution in connectivity, especially in underserved regions.
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