T-Mobile’s satellite service is now officially available to all subscribers. T-Satellite with Starlink connects smartphones in areas “far beyond the reach of traditional networks” by connecting to more than 650 low-orbiting satellites.
T-Mobile has been testing the service for six months. The company claims that almost two million people have already used it to send texts from remote trails and workplaces where there is no power connection. The company also claims that the service has proven extremely useful during extreme weather events and natural disasters. For example, more than 410,000 people contacted loved ones during the Los Angeles fires, and nearly 94,000 users did the same after the recent floods in Texas.
T-Satellite supports text messaging on Android and iOS devices, and users can access a number of applications optimized for satellite data transmission. Among them are Google, AllTrails, AccuWeather, WhatsApp, X and some others. T-Mobile Experience Beyond subscribers can use the service for free, but for everyone else it costs $10 per month. Non-subscribers will be able to call 911 for free later this year.
Interestingly, this service is not just for T-Mobile subscribers. AT&T and Verizon users can also access the platform by paying a monthly subscription.
