T-Mobile's direct-to-cell satellite constellation is ready to goT-Mobile's direct-to-cell satellite constellation is ready to go

The puzzle pieces are coming together for T-Mobile to begin offering satellite connections to customers who wander outside of its cellular coverage areas. Questions remain, however, including how T-Mobile might roll out the service and what it might cost to use.

"The first Starlink satellite direct to cell phone constellation is now complete," SpaceX's Elon Musk wrote on social media. "This will enable unmodified cellphones to have Internet connectivity in remote areas. Bandwidth per beam is only ~10Mb, but future constellations will be much more capable."

Most direct-to-device (D2D) players like Starlink are promising text messaging services initially and more bandwidth-heavy applications, like voice and video, at some later date.

Musk, of course, is the world's richest person and the chief executive of rocket company SpaceX, which also operates the Starlink constellation of satellites. Starlink's constellation currently spans more than 6,000 satellites, but the company has been working to upgrade that constellation with newer, second-generation satellites that also support direct-to-cell connections.

Over the past year, SpaceX has launched around 320 cellular-capable Starlink satellites, according to SpaceNews. Now that constellation is ready to begin connecting to phones, according to SpaceX officials.

"Excited to turn on service in the US and other partner countries soon, providing peace of mind and emergency services wherever people may work, play, or travel," wrote SpaceX's Sara Spangelo on social media.

Regulatory approvals

As noted by Ars Technica, the FCC recently gave the regulatory green light to SpaceX's cellular ambitions. Specifically, Starlink received approval to provide Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) within the US via T-Mobile's 1910–1915MHz (Earth-to-space) and 1990–1995MHz (space-to-Earth) bands.

"We find that SpaceX and T-Mobile's SCS operations will yield many benefits, including an increase in access to emergency services in areas where consumers would otherwise not have the capability to access a terrestrial network to call or text 911," the FCC wrote.

The order also paves the way for Starlink to operate up to 7,500 second-generation satellites. But it does not take a stance on Starlink's request to expand its constellation with another 22,488 satellites.

The FCC also did not address SpaceX's request for a waiver of rules regarding out-of-band emission (OOBE) limits. AT&T, Verizon and others have opposed that waiver.

Interestingly, Starlink's direct-to-cell plans have an Internet of things (IoT) component. On its website, Starlink said its direct-to-cell satellites "will enable ubiquitous Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity outside of terrestrial coverage, connecting millions of devices across critical global industries."

Specifically, the company said the satellites will support CAT-1, CAT-1 Bis and CAT-4 IoT modems.

T-Mobile's plans

"We're very much looking forward to getting our beta underway," T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert said in October.

But it's not clear whether T-Mobile will offer satellite connections to all of its customers this year, or just a subset that would participate in a beta test of the service. SpaceX and T-Mobile have already tested wireless emergency alerts delivered via satellite.

T-Mobile officials have hinted the company might add satellite connections as an additional perk on its more expensive service plans, rather than charging an extra fee for the offering.

It's also not clear how T-Mobile's satellite services might work alongside those already offered by Apple.

When Apple first launched its own iPhone emergency satellite messaging service in 2022, the company said it would be free for the first two years. However, Apple then extended that free period into 2025. 

And this year, with its new iOS 18 software platform, Apple shifted its emergency satellite messaging services to just regular messaging services. Moreover, Apple's newest cash injection into its satellite partner, Globalstar, could portend a further investment by the iPhone maker into satellite-based services.

The AT&T response

AT&T outlined some of its own satellite ambitions during a three-hour analyst event Tuesday. The company's management discussed AT&T's years of work with AST SpaceMobile, which is working to build its own direct-to-cell satellite constellation.

"You'll see us plug their services in the edges we don't cover, over the ocean, in the Grand Canyon, or in places it doesn't pay for us to put up a cell tower to cover that footprint," AT&T CEO John Stankey said during the company's event.

Verizon too has signed on to use AST SpaceMobile's satellites for similar services.

However, AST SpaceMobile officials have said the company will need to launch 45 to 60 satellites to offer cellular broadband in places like the US, beyond the five it launched this year. To do that, the company is working with rocket companies including SpaceX, ISRO in India and Blue Origin, the rocket company backed by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos.