T-Mobile Expands Starlink-Powered T-Satellite Service to Include App-Based Data Connectivity
T-Mobile has announced a significant expansion of its Starlink-powered T-Satellite service, bringing app-based satellite data connectivity to smartphones across the United States. This rollout comes just over two months after the carrier first commercially launched T-Satellite, initially offering support limited to SMS, MMS, and location sharing.
With over 650 Starlink Direct to Cell satellites now in orbit, T-Satellite customers can now access popular apps in areas where traditional cell signals do not reach. This includes real-time mapping with Google Maps and AllTrails, weather updates from AccuWeather, outdoor safety tools like CalTopo and onX, as well as social media and messaging apps such as WhatsApp and X.
For the first time, T-Satellite also enables app-based voice and video calling, with WhatsApp users able to make live calls and participate in group chats over satellite.
Mike Katz, President of Marketing, Innovation, and Experience at T-Mobile, expressed his excitement about the positive response to T-Satellite, stating, “The response from the first two months of T-Satellite commercial service has blown us away. We started with just text messaging and text-to-911, and those capabilities alone have proven to be invaluable for wireless users.”
He further added, “Now we’re taking it up a notch and bringing essential phone apps and services into the mix — giving people access to the apps they need most, in places they’ve never had a signal before. It’s a game-changer for safety, peace of mind, and the freedom to stay connected virtually anywhere.”
Using T-Satellite is seamless for customers, as devices automatically connect to a satellite when terrestrial coverage drops. The service is included at no extra charge with T-Mobile’s top Experience Beyond plans, while users on other plans and carriers, including AT&T and Verizon, can add it for $10 per month.
This expansion follows Starlink Direct to Cell adding data support for apps last month, marking the completion of the deployment of its first-generation cellular satellite constellation. SpaceX, the company behind Starlink, has even grander plans for the future, including launching next-generation Direct to Cell satellites and testing cellular service on its own wireless spectrum in 2026.
Furthermore, Canadian telecom giant Rogers is also testing Starlink-powered satellite texting across its network in Canada, highlighting the global expansion of this technology.
For now, U.S. T-Mobile customers can enjoy using apps like WhatsApp, AllTrails, AccuWeather, CalTopo, onX, and more in even the most remote areas of the country, without the need for traditional cell towers. Stay connected wherever you go with T-Mobile’s innovative T-Satellite service.