Official announcements from T-Mobile or SpaceX, or coverage in major tech news outlets.

T-Mobile and Starlink Beta Program to Enable Text Messaging in 500,000 Square Miles of Dead Zones

Dec 17, 2024, 09:37 AM

T-Mobile has opened registration for a beta program to test its satellite mobile phone service, developed in collaboration with SpaceX's Starlink. The service aims to eliminate cellular dead zones across the United States by utilizing over 300 Starlink satellites equipped with direct-to-smartphone payloads. The beta test, set to begin early next year, will initially focus on enabling text messaging in areas without traditional cell tower coverage, covering over 500,000 square miles. T-Mobile customers with compatible devices and postpaid voice plans can sign up for the free beta program, with priority access given to first responders and emergency services due to limited initial capacity. Unlike other satellite services, users won't need to point their phones skyward to find a signal. The service received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in October, with final approval in November, and SpaceX has been granted permission to provide the service from up to 7,500 satellites.