T-Mobile Unlocks Starlink Services Across T-Mobile with New Competitive Pricing
Starting in July, customers on the premium Go5G Next plan will get direct-to-cell Starlink benefit for free. Other T-Mobile customers will have the option to purchase the service for $15 per month per line, while AT&T and Verizon customers who wish to purchase the service will have to pay $20 per month per line.
Getting Satellite Services With All Major Carriers
Letting consumers of AT&T and Verizon use T-Mobile’s cellular service powered with Starlink for satellite-based services is quite bold. In the words of Clint Patterson, T-Mobile’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, “It requires an unlocked smartphone with eSIM to make use of the service.”
Device Availability and Compatibility
To provide users with a positive experience, T-Mobile intends to keep an updated list of compatible devices available online. Most smartphones released within four years, with the Samsung Galaxy S21 and iPhone 14 series being the newest models, are expected to work with the service.
T-Mobile has previously offered the Starlink powered service through a beta program that began in December which targeted select iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel users. This program is now maturing to include users from all major network providers, expanding the reach of satellite communication.
Official Service Launch and Next Steps
The comprehensive rollout of T-Mobile’s cellular Starlink service is planned for July which will begin after the free beta period ends. The company announced the initiative during one of its Super Bowl commercials where it showcased its partnership with SpaceX. This extraterrestrial network uses a constellation of 400 plus satellites to provide cellular service even in the most remote dead zones.
The service currently only allows for SMS texting. In the future, SpaceX hopes to enable calling and mobile data access once regulatory approvals are granted.
Moreover, subscribers of the Go5G Business Next plan and first response agencies that are on T-Mobile’s T-Priority plans will enjoy the Starlink service free of charge starting July.
Competitive Landscape: An Analysis of T-Mobile’s Position
The introduction of the Starlink service by T-Mobile is the most remarkable change in competitive landscape shifts given that rivals AT&T and Verizon are working on developing their own solutions via satellite. AT&T works with AST SpaceMobile while Verizon collaborates with Skylo. Still, AST SpaceMobile is many months from bringing its service to the general public, which may give T-Mobile an edge in being the first provider.
In November, SpaceX received permission from the FCC to operate the cellular Starlink service, which was integrated into the existing T-Mobile network. This gives SpaceX the authority to utilize T-Mobile’s 1900MHz spectrum in order to provide satellite coverage for mobile phones out of the box.
User experience coupled with performance scrutinizes.
Most early testers, which are mostly users of T Mobile on iPhones, or Galaxy S series, already used the service under a beta testing phase. User feedback is not completely positive, and some have reported having signal loss from time to time.
“We do get a notification when a connection is established, although it isn’t always stable,” a beta tester remarked. SpaceX aims to tackle these issues by launching hundreds more Starlink satellites over the next few months in order to enhance network performance and stability.
“This is a major step forward and it may take some time to realize its full potential,” T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert remarked. “As a note for my beta testers, no bars are placed on deadzones—even un-carrier deadzones.”
Pricing and Discounts for Early Adopters
The pricing structure for Starlink connectivity varies depending on the carrier:
- T-Mobile Go5G Next customers: Free
- Other T-Mobile plans: $15 per month per line
- AT&T and Verizon customers: $20 per month per line
For customers considering early adoption, T-Mobile is offering a limited-time discount through the end of February, reducing the cost to $10 per month per line for its own subscribers.
As T-Mobile continues to push the boundaries of connectivity with its Starlink partnership, the expansion of satellite-based service marks a significant step toward eliminating dead zones and providing nationwide coverage, regardless of location.
