T-Mobile has announced that it will launch its satellite-to-cell service, powered by SpaceX’s Starlink, in July at a cost of $15 per month. The initiative aims to eliminate mobile dead zones and provide connectivity to remote areas, marking a significant advancement in mobile technology. T-Mobile’s shares rose by approximately 4% in premarket trading on Monday following the announcement.
The satellite service will address coverage gaps in regions of the U.S. that are inaccessible by traditional cell towers, with T-Mobile stating that 500,000 square miles of such areas will now have connectivity. A beta trial for the service began on Sunday, with T-Mobile offering the service free to customers until the official launch. After that, the service will be included at no additional cost for customers on the premium Go5G Next plan. Other plan customers will receive a 33% discount when the service officially launches.
In a groundbreaking move, T-Mobile will make the Starlink service available to customers of all U.S. wireless providers, including AT&T and Verizon, without requiring them to switch. The initial beta version of the service will provide text messaging via satellite, with voice and data features planned for later.
Mike Katz, T-Mobile’s president of marketing, strategy, and products, emphasized that the service is unique in the U.S. and will work across most smartphones from the last four years, thanks to partnerships with Apple and Google for seamless integration with their operating systems. This satellite service is expected to revolutionize connectivity for users in hard-to-reach areas.
