T-Mobile (TMUS, Financial) has announced a partnership with Elon Musk's Starlink to conduct large-scale testing of satellite-to-phone services. This initiative, supported by SpaceX's Starlink satellites, aims to eliminate mobile dead zones and extend connectivity to remote areas. The trial will be free until July, after which it will be included in T-Mobile's premium Go5G Next plan at no additional charge. Once commercialized, the service can be added to other plans for $15 per month, with trial participants paying $10 monthly. Users can sign up online to participate.
Notably, customers of other carriers like Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T) with digital SIM card-enabled phones can also try T-Mobile's Starlink service. Mike Katz, T-Mobile’s president of marketing, strategy, and products, stated that Go5G Next plan subscribers will not incur additional charges, while Verizon and AT&T customers will be billed $20 monthly. Initially, the service will offer satellite-supported text messaging in areas without mobile signals, with plans to expand to voice, picture messaging, and other data services in the future.
Previously, T-Mobile and Starlink provided emergency text and alert services in disaster areas regardless of the user’s carrier, receiving regulatory approval for service commercialization. Verizon has also received regulatory approval to test its direct-to-mobile partnership with AST SpaceMobile for messaging, data, and voice services. Additionally, reports indicate that Apple (AAPL) has integrated Starlink network support in its latest iPhone software, allowing users to send texts and contact emergency services outside of phone signal range via Globalstar.
