T-Mobile’s direct-to-cell service, which enables signal transmission in areas lacking cell tower coverage, entered its beta phase in February. The service is currently free for customers of T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon until July when a public rollout is anticipated. While AT&T and Verizon are working on developing a satellite-powered communication offering for their users, T-Mobile’s initiative is already attracting attention.
In a recent interview, T-Mobile’s Chief Network Officer, Ankur Kapoor, disclosed that there has been a surprising trend in customer registration for the Starlink beta service. Notably, half of the sign-ups have come from non-T-Mobile customers. Kapoor remarked on this phenomenon, highlighting the interest shown by customers from competing networks.
Following the beta phase, T-Mobile will still provide the service free for its Go5G Next and Go5G Business Next plan users, while customers on other plans will incur a charge of $15 per month. However, those who registered during the beta period will benefit from a reduced rate of $10. As of now, the service supports only messaging capabilities, but there are indications that with the Federal Communications Commission’s approval to enhance operational power, voice services may soon be introduced.
Although data services could follow in the near future, video support remains a distant goal, as Kapoor emphasized that streaming video over non-terrestrial networks isn’t feasible at this stage. Currently, the focus remains on messaging and voice applications, addressing the needs of customers in remote areas such as hiking spots. Kapoor is optimistic about the future of the technology, asserting that the partnership with SpaceX positions T-Mobile well in the industry to tackle existing customer challenges.