T-Mobile US this week announced a major expansion of T-Satellite with Starlink, bringing satellite data connectivity for popular apps to dozens more smartphones. Powered by 650+ Starlink Direct to Cell (D2C) Satellites, T-Satellite customers can now use their phones to access essential off-the-grid apps like WhatsApp, AllTrails, AccuWeather, Google Maps, T-Life, X and more.
In 2022, when T-Mobile US and SpaceX first announced plans to jointly enable satellite texting, voice and data for its customers, we were excited. In June of this year (T-Mobile US announces Texting and Data from Space using T-Satellite), after a beta stage, the texting-level of commercial service was introduced.
Today, the service is now capable of data service on a list of about ten ‘satellite-ready’ applications including Google Maps, WhatsApp, OnX, and X. The satellite service now has 650 3GPP Starlink D2C satellites.
When 650 Group first published our insights about how satellite D2C service will encroach upon terrestrial services, we caught flack from naysayers claiming data and voice services were not possible. Well, these two services (on a limited set of apps) is now live and commercially available.