Ahead of SpaceX Starlink Direct-to-Cellular launching later this year, Elon Musk has provided an update on how the service will roll out. After one year of working with T-Mobile in the US, the service will open up to other carriers in the US for satellite internet deals.
The same strategy will apply in other countries, like in Canada where the service will initially launch with Rogers.
Over the weekend, Musk posted on his social media site, X, that T-Mobile has exclusive access to Starlink satellites to provide internet service. However, that will change after one year of cooperation. After the first 12 months, the satellite operator will seek deals with competing mobile service providers in the US.
“Starlink direct to mobile phone Internet is exclusively with @Tmobile in the US for the first year, then other carriers thereafter.”
He emphasized that the company will be looking for partners not only in the US but around the world. He said that Starlink wants to work with all mobile operators in each country, but will start with one deal in each market.
“We are starting off working with one carrier in each country, but ultimately hope to serve all carriers.”
Musk gave the update in response to a post from the Sr. Director of Satellite Engineering at SpaceX, Ben Longmier. Longmier shared that the SpaceX Direct to Cell program just added 26 satellites with a recent Falcon 9 launch. That brings the total to 168 units. He explained that this will help cover even more dead zones across the US.
T-Mobile and Starlink began collaborating in August 2022. However, little detail has emerged since then. It remains unclear when the service will launch. In May, SpaceX announced plans to launch “commercial direct-to-cellular” in the US later this year in documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission.
T-Mobile joins a list of global carriers with which Starlink has agreements, including Rogers Communications in Canada, Optus in Australia, and Japan’s KDDI, among others.
