American telecom operator T-Mobile has introduced a new service aimed at regions with underdeveloped cellular network infrastructure. It will allow subscribers to exchange text messages via Starlink satellites.
The new service, called T-Mobile Starlink Beta, was officially announced in a promotional video shown during the Super Bowl finale. It should put the end to “dead zones” — sparsely populated and hard-to-reach regions with poorly developed cellular network infrastructure, where subscribers are outside the coverage area and cannot reach those they need.
In order to use the new service, you need to register for the beta version of the satellite service. Curiously, though T-Mobile’s statement claims it’s open for free to absolutely everyone, the “fine print” admits that there are limited slots. So there’s a chance that some people won’t get access.
In order to send SMS via Starslink, you will also need a suitable smartphone, that is, not a very old one. According to T-Mobile representatives, the service should work on “almost every” smartphone released in the last four years. The most popular models, such as the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, should work from the start. Owners of less common devices may have to wait a few weeks while T-Mobile works on finalizing the satellite service. You should also keep in mind that the system is still in beta testing, so all sorts of technical overlaps are possible.
The program will be open not only to T-Mobile customers, but also to subscribers of other U.S. mobile carriers, including Verizon and AT&T customers. Their smartphones must support the use of e-SIMs for this purpose.
As the satellite SMS service is still in beta testing, there will be no charge for using the service initially. But as of July 2025, this situation will be different. Subscribers on most T-Mobile plans will get the service for a monthly fee of $10 to $15, and only customers with the most expensive Go5G Next plan won’t have to pay anything extra. Verizon and AT&T customers will get the service for $20 a month.
We previously reported on United Airlines’ plans to bring satellite internet to its passengers.
According to The Washington Post
