No Signal? No Problem – Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell Satellites Are Eliminating Dead Zones
SpaceX and T-Mobile began offering Starlink Direct-to-Cell beta text service in late 2024, following FCC conditional approval and successful SMS tests using Gen2 satellites. By February 2025, commercial service launched in the US and New Zealand, with T-Mobile opening testing to non-customers. Current service supports SMS only, with data and voice planned for later in 2025. Connectivity requires outdoor sky visibility and uses licensed 4G LTE spectrum.