T-Mobile took advantage of the Super Bowl to announce that its T-Mobile Starlink beta service is now available to everyone in the U.S. – yes, anyone can sign up.
So, what exactly is T-Mobile Starlink? It’s a service, created in partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink, that extends cell coverage to 500,000 square miles in the U.S. where no cell towers exist. You don’t need a special satellite phone; your current phone should work just fine. Once signed up for the beta, your phone will automatically connect to a satellite when outside regular cell coverage.
Currently, you can send and receive text messages, including group texts and reactions. However, the service will expand to include photos, voice calls, and data later on.
Anyone in the U.S. can sign up, and if you’re accepted, you’ll enjoy free access until July. This offer extends to AT&T and Verizon customers as well. After the free trial ends, T-Mobile subscribers on a Go5G Next plan can continue using Starlink for free, while others can add the service for $15/month (or $10/month if signed up this month). AT&T and Verizon users can continue at $20/month after the trial.
T-Mobile Starlink will also broadcast Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to any carrier’s users outside regular coverage—important for emergency situations, like hiking in remote areas. T-Mobile has already used Starlink to aid first responders during emergencies, such as after hurricanes and wildfires.
According to Mike Sievert, T-Mobile’s President and CEO, “T-Mobile Starlink is the first and only space-based mobile network in the U.S. that automatically connects to your phone, even in areas where no cellular network exists. It’s a game changer for all wireless users.”
