TMUS introduces direct-to-cell services with Starlink: storage to win?

On By Littum

T-Mobile, US, Inc. TMUS recently announced that it has opened registration for a beta program offering direct-to-cell (“DTC”) satellite service in partnership with Starlink. The beta program is available to all T-Mobile postpaid voice customers with a compatible device. Initially, it will only support text messages with voice and data services expected to be introduced in the future.

The major development began earlier in 2024, when TMUS and SpaceX collaborated to launch Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell technology. Starlink’s advanced direct-to-cell technology delivers consistent text, voice and data services to LTE phones worldwide, even in hard-to-reach locations where terrestrial network infrastructure is limited. Seamless integration of Starlink’s direct-to-cell with TMUS’ terrestrial network is likely to ensure a user-friendly and intuitive experience for its users compared to other direct-to-cell services in the market.

Despite the rapid rollout of 5G infrastructure, a large area of ​​the United States has remained outside the network’s coverage area. Remote locations and sparsely populated areas are often considered economically unfeasible for network infrastructure deployment by telecommunications companies. In addition, geographically challenging terrain presents another layer of difficulty for the establishment of ground network infrastructure. This limits the residents of these areas from accessing numerous critical services ranging from finance, education, emergency services and healthcare.

T-Mobile and Starlink boast a shared vision of achieving universal coverage. The collaboration has promised to eliminate the problems of network dead zones, the need for expensive satellite phones and expand connectivity to more than half a million square kilometers across the United States that are outside of network coverage. In addition, T-Mobile and Starlink are expanding their collaboration to wireless providers worldwide.

The beta test of TMUS’ direct-to-cell service will be launched in the next year. This is of great importance to companies and first aid agencies operating in remote locations. In the future, TMUS plans to eventually launch services throughout the United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and parts of Alaska. Strategic collaboration with Starlink underscores TMUS’s strong emphasis on expanding its services beyond the company’s terrestrial network coverage area to expand and support its customer base. This customer-oriented strategy bodes well for long-term growth.