T-Mobile gained attention during this year’s Super Bowl by unveiling the details on availability and pricing for its T-Mobile Starlink service. Notably, the service will not require users to be T-Mobile customers.
To kick things off, T-Mobile is currently accepting sign-ups for the T-Mobile Starlink beta, which will be free until its official launch in July.
Importantly, testing the T-Mobile Starlink service does not necessitate being a T-Mobile customer. Users from other carriers will also have the opportunity to test the beta version for free, without the obligation to switch.
Once T-Mobile Starlink officially rolls out in July, it will be available at no extra charge for those on Go5G Next plans.
For T-Mobile customers on other plans, the satellite service can be added for $15 per month.
If you’re not a T-Mobile customer, access will still be available for $20 per month.
This pricing model is relatively high for a service intended solely for outdoor use in areas lacking cell coverage. However, it is intriguing that T-Mobile Starlink doesn’t require a user to switch to T-Mobile as their main carrier.
Here’s additional information from today’s announcement:
“Now in public beta, this innovative service, developed in collaboration with Starlink, employs advanced satellite and mobile communication technologies to keep people connected — even Verizon and AT&T customers — in over 500,000 square miles of the country that are unreachable by traditional cell towers. That area is approximately the size of two Texases!”
T-Mobile Starlink utilizes specially configured satellites with Direct-to-Cell capabilities orbiting Earth at an altitude of over 200 miles and moving at speeds exceeding 17,000 miles per hour to transmit cell phone signals — initially offering text messaging, with the addition of picture messaging, data, and voice calls expected in the future — to mobile dead zones not covered by conventional towers.
As a reminder, T-Mobile Starlink is an optional add-on offered by T-Mobile through its partnership with SpaceX. Apple’s role is limited to supporting the T-Mobile network. With the release of iOS 18.3, iPhone users have the option to opt out of their carrier’s satellite-connected features, but the update does not install Starlink on every iPhone.
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