T-Mobile and Starlink Launch Satellite Texting, But Hit Early Hiccups

T-Mobile customers can now send text messages even in areas without cell towers, thanks to a new satellite-based service powered by Elon Musk’s Starlink network. The service officially went live this week and is being offered at no extra charge on most plans—though it currently only supports texting, not calls or data.

According to The Verge, this new feature works through T-Mobile's partnership with SpaceX, which uses Starlink’s low-orbit satellites to keep users connected in places where there’s traditionally no signal—think hiking trails, remote highways, or rural areas. Phones don’t need any special hardware to connect, and the service runs in the background like regular texting.

But the rollout wasn’t completely smooth. Just hours after the service launched, PhoneArena reported that Starlink experienced a widespread outage. The disruption, which began around 2AM ET and affected many users trying to connect to the satellite internet service, was resolved within a few hours. While T-Mobile hasn’t said if the outage impacted its satellite texting specifically, the timing raised eyebrows among early users and industry watchers.

Despite the hiccup, T-Mobile says the satellite texting service will continue to improve. Right now, it's only available for messaging and doesn't yet support images or group chats. In the future, the company plans to expand the service to include voice and data, which could make it a game-changer for people in remote areas or during natural disasters.

If you’re a T-Mobile customer and want to try it out, there's no need to install anything or upgrade your phone. Just send a text as you normally would—the network will automatically use satellites when there’s no tower coverage.

The service is expected to gradually roll out across more areas in the U.S., and it could mark a big shift in how we stay connected off the grid.

Source: The Verge, PhoneArena