T-Mobile’s T-Satellite Service Officially Launches

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After nearly a month of beta testing satellite services, T-Satellite is finally here. If you have T-Mobile, you can send text messages even when there’s no cell coverage, as your phone will automatically connect to the closest of the more than 650 Starlink satellites in your area. The catch is that the service is no longer free, and unless you signed up for the beta, it’s only available to T-Mobile subscribers.

The development of T-Satellite took several months.

Here’s the scoop: Back in December , T-Mobile announced a partnership with SpaceX to bring Starlink service to its customers. Then, in January , the company began accepting users for beta testing, but only owners of certain, recent Samsung devices.

Things changed again with the release of iOS 18.3 . Apple appears to have worked with SpaceX and T-Mobile to bring Starlink support to iPhones as well, though Apple didn’t announce it as part of the update. T-Mobile also appears to have approved some Pixel 9 users who signed up for the beta, expanding the program to Apple, Samsung, and Google devices.

Then, in an ad that aired during Super Bowl Sunday , T-Mobile announced that it was opening up Starlink beta testing to the entire U.S., including Verizon and AT&T customers. Despite the restrictions, those eager to try out T-Mobile’s satellite service could challenge their rival.

Then, in June, the beta was made available to everyone , regardless of carrier. T-Mobile also offered some serious perks for free: access to T-Mobile’s 5G network, including 50GB of data and unlimited texting, plus a bunch of extras like $5 movie tickets, 25% off concerts, travel discounts, and T-Mobile Tuesdays.

Finally, on July 23, T-Mobile officially launched T-Satellite.

What is special about satellite communications?

The ability to connect your smartphone to satellites is literally a breakthrough. You no longer have to worry about losing cell service or not having Wi-Fi. If the sky is clear enough and you are in a coverage area , you can connect to the outside world.

To be clear, this feature only works when there is no cellular connection. In this case, your phone will automatically connect to nearby satellites. If you have a network connection, you will not be able to manually connect to satellites.

Right now, the T-Satellite only supports text messaging and location sharing. T-Mobile says it will add support for image sharing and data coverage for optimized apps in the future. According to Elon Musk , the current Starlink technology should support medium-resolution images, as well as music and podcast streaming. But even if T-Mobile only supports text messaging and location sharing right now, you can imagine what a lifesaver that is. If you don’t have cellular service and otherwise wouldn’t be able to contact emergency services or important contacts, you can connect to a Starlink satellite and send text messages to either (or both).

However, this isn’t the first time iPhones have gained satellite connectivity. Apple has offered satellite connectivity since 2022, when it debuted the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature on the iPhone 14. The company expanded the feature in iOS 18 : previously, you could only contact emergency services or roadside assistance via satellite, but after last year’s big update, you can now send messages to anyone.

Both options seem to be pretty good at what they do, at least in the experience of PCMag’s Michael Kahn . Kahn reports that with both services, messages can be sent instantly or with a delay of anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes. He also had no trouble connecting, even when he didn’t have to point his phone at the sky or when something was blocking his view of the sky, like in his car. Kahn found that T-Satellite held a connection longer than Apple’s services, requiring him to reconnect occasionally. However, T-Satellite sometimes failed to connect to satellites, possibly due to its proximity to cellular networks.

What do you think at the moment?

How to join T-Satellite

Unfortunately, the beta has ended. If you want to continue using T-Satellite, you’ll need a T-Mobile plan that supports the service, such as the “Experience Beyond” or “Go5G Next” plan. If you were in the free beta, you can continue to use the service regardless of whether you have T-Mobile, but you’ll need to start paying $10 per month. T-Mobile subscribers who weren’t in the beta can also add T-Satellite to their plans for the same monthly price. (T-Mobile says it’s a “$5 per month savings,” which means the real cost is $15.)

If you want to try T-Mobile satellite service, you’ll first need a compatible unlocked device with an eSIM. The list of compatible T-Mobile devices is available on the official Starlink website and includes the following:

Apple

  • iPhone 13

  • iPhone 13 mini

  • iPhone 13 Pro

  • iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • iPhone 14

  • iPhone 14 Plus

  • iPhone 14 Pro

  • iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • iPhone 15

  • iPhone 15 Plus

  • iPhone 15 Pro

  • iPhone 15 Pro Max

  • iPhone 16e

  • iPhone 16

  • iPhone 16 Plus

  • iPhone 16 Pro

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

Google

  • Google Pixel 9

  • Google Pixel 9a

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Motorola

  • moto edge 2025

  • moto g 5G 2025

  • moto g 2024

  • moto g power 5G 2025

  • moto razr 2024

  • moto razr+ 2024

  • moto razr 2025

  • moto razr+ 2025

  • moto razr ultra 2025

  • Motorola Edge 2024 (coming soon)

  • moto G Stylus 2024 (coming soon)

Samsung

  • Samsung Galaxy A14

  • Samsung Galaxy A15 5G

  • Samsung Galaxy A16 5G SE

  • Samsung Galaxy A25 SE

  • Samsung Galaxy A35

  • Samsung Galaxy A36 SE

  • Samsung Galaxy A53

  • Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Samsung Galaxy A56 5G SE

  • Samsung Galaxy S21

  • Samsung Galaxy S21+

  • Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

  • Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

  • Samsung Galaxy S22

  • Samsung Galaxy S22+

  • Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

  • Samsung Galaxy S22 FE

  • Samsung Galaxy S23

  • Samsung Galaxy S23+

  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

  • Samsung Galaxy S24

  • Samsung Galaxy S24+

  • Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

  • Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

  • Samsung Galaxy S25

  • Samsung Galaxy S25+

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

  • Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro

  • Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE (coming soon)

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 (coming soon)

Please note that some non-T-Mobile Galaxy devices cannot connect to satellite.

T-Mobile

  • T-Mobile REVVL 7 (coming soon)

  • T-Mobile REVVL 7 Pro (coming soon)

If you are new to the service and do not have a compatible plan, you will need to add it to your plan through T-Mobile. This option can be found on T-Mobile’s official T-Satellite page .

T-Mobile recommends that you download the T-Life app after signing up, but be aware that the app records your screen by default when you are actively using T-Life. To maintain your privacy, you must manually disable this feature.

This article was updated on Wednesday, July 23, to reflect T-Mobile’s official launch of T-Satellite.

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