T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert and SpaceX Chief Engineer Elon Musk announced Coverage Above and Beyond today. The Un-carrier intends to deliver near total coverage in much of the U.S. via Starlink, SpaceX’s constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit, and T-industry-leading Mobile’s wireless network.
Over 500,000 square miles of the U.S. and large ocean sections have no mobile signal from ANY carrier. Anyone who has encountered a mobile dead zone knows that the wireless industry has failed to cover these areas. This is due to typical terrestrial cellular technology, land-use regulations (e.g. National Parks) and America’s vastness. In some locations, individuals are disconnected or pay excessive charges for sat phones. Today, SpaceX and T-Mobile are taking a first step to making unprotected places a thing of the past.
T-Mobile and SpaceX want to give customers a key layer of connectivity in locations previously unreachable by cell signals from any provider. The service works with your pocketed phone. Using the device’s current radio, most T-Mobile smartphones will be compatible with the new service. No equipment needed. Works perfectly.
T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert: “We’ve always thought differently about keeping consumers connected, so we’re working with the best to bring coverage beyond anything customers have seen before.” This cooperation represents two industry-shaking entrepreneurs challenging old methods of doing things to develop something new that will connect customers and scare competition.
SpaceX Chief Engineer Elon Musk: “This implies there are no cell phone dead zones anywhere in the planet.” “We’re pumped to work with T-Mobile.”
The businesses will use T-mid-band Mobile’s spectrum to broadcast a new network from Starlink’s satellites countrywide. This satellite-to-cellular service will reach essentially everywhere a client can see the sky.
T-Mobile plans to give users text coverage almost everywhere in the mainland US, Hawaii, sections of Alaska, Puerto Rico, and territorial waters with this technology by the end of next year after SpaceX’s planned satellite launches. Text communications, including SMS, MMS, and partner applications, will let customers remain connected and share experiences. After that, they’ll add phone and data coverage.
The CEOs also discussed their vision for expanding Coverage Above and Beyond globally, inviting carriers to partner for global connectivity. T-Mobile committed to offering reciprocal roaming to partners in this vision.
Today’s news advances T-Coverage Mobile’s Beyond initiative. The Un-carrier improved consumer connectivity in the air and abroad earlier this year. Today’s move will provide the best coverage possible.
No voice/data connectivity yet
Press release: “Afterward, the firms hope to enhance voice and data coverage.” However. in the middle of nowhere, you may not have complete satellite data coverage on your phone.
Fortunately, most T-Mobile phones support this capability out-of-the-box, say the firms. So you don’t need a specific phone, firmware updates, or app for satellite texting.
While you are waiting for the new feature; you can also read about > Here’s how Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 became a “Windows Phone.”