I’m standing on a beach about 50 miles south of San Francisco—no cars, buildings, or people in sight. Only sand, trees, and blue sky. It should be a cellular dead zone.
But in my pocket, a Samsung phone alerts me to arriving texts, even though there’s no cell tower nearby. The messages are beaming in from space thanks to a fleet of Starlink satellites orbiting more than 300 miles above, designed to connect to ordinary smartphones like mine.
That’s what you can expect from T-Satellite, T-Mobile’s cellular Starlink service, which officially launches on July 23 to US customers on all carriers, including AT&T and Verizon. The goal: wipe out dead zones by using SpaceX’s growing satellite network to keep you connected in the most remote corners of the country.
For now, the system is restricted to SMS messages, but T-Mobile has been hyping up the technology as game-changing. It’s been available as a beta since January to customers on T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. When it launched, early testers told us about signal drops, message delays, and wait times of up to five minutes just to send a text. Five months in, I wanted to know if the service had improved, so I hopped in a rental car and drove out to the middle of nowhere.
Cell Towers in Space: Getting Started With T-Satellite
(PCMag/Michael Kan)
Over the weekend, I tested the “T-Satellite” beta using a Galaxy S24 FE, one of the over 50 phones that the service supports. T-Mobile makes it relatively easy to get started; the satellite service runs on a secondary eSIM, which also provides trial access to T-Mobile’s 5G network.
Satellite connectivity only activates if you travel to a dead zone on T-Mobile’s official coverage map. That led me to a beach squarely in no-signal territory. As I drove into the area, the 5G bars on my Samsung phone vanished and were replaced by a “T-Mobile SpaceX” label and a satellite icon in the corner. It was the first clear sign I’d connected to the system.
The area where I tested the T-Satellite service. (Credit: T-Mobile)
From there, I sent and received SMS texts using the satellite connection. To test the speed and reliability, I used two other phones—an iPhone 15 Pro and a OnePlus device, both on AT&T—making it easy to compare results and verify whether my messages were getting through.
In my testing, the time it took to send an SMS message on T-Satellite varied. Sometimes, it happened instantly; other times, it took 20 to 30 seconds. Then there were points where it stretched to two minutes or more, even with the phone held up to the sky.
The Samsung phone with T-Satellite showing delays with sending texts to the OnePlus Android handset on AT&T’s network. (Credit: Michael Kan/PCMag)
In one instance, I sent a stream of texts; the first messages were sent off instantly, but then the successive ones came in slower, and the rest showed a delay. The Samsung phone was likely searching for Starlink satellites to connect to as they orbited above.
Surprisingly, though, the T-Satellite service doesn’t require a clear view of the sky. I sent and received texts while inside a car, under light tree cover, and even while the vehicle was in motion at over 40mph.
The transmission lag is a noticeable limitation, but the system works as promised. If a text didn’t go through, the phone displayed a delivery failure message.
Head-to-Head: T-Satellite vs. Apple iPhone Satellite
Apple’s satellite network appearing on the iPhone. (Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)
It’s an impressive technical achievement, but it might not wow every consumer. Apple already offers its own satellite connectivity for iPhones, which added support last year for chats through iMessage and SMS. In fact, when I originally tried to activate the T-Satellite service on the iPhone 15 Pro, the device defaulted to Apple’s satellite service when I reached a cellular dead zone. T-Mobile’s support page also says there’s no manual way to switch on the T-Satellite service; it’s done automatically.
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So on my second trip, I brought the Samsung and OnePlus phones, too. Walking across the beach, I compared both in real time; the T-Satellite Samsung phone sent messages back and forth with the iPhone 15 Pro connected to Apple’s satellite system. Although the texts were sometimes delayed, both phones communicated with each other, like the dead zone didn’t exist.
Two weeks earlier, on the iPhone connected to Apple’s satellite system, I saw similar SMS transmission times, from instant delivery to delays of 30 seconds to several minutes. Like with T-Satellite, I also didn’t need to point the iPhone at a specific spot in the sky, although Apple’s satellite interface will encourage you to do so. I used it like any regular phone and still maintained a satellite connection, even while I was in a car.
Manually reconnecting with Apple’s satellite network. (Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)
Where T-Satellite has an edge is in staying connected, at least during my test. As long as I remained in a dead zone, my phone maintained a continuous link to the Starlink network. Apple’s system, on the other hand, tended to disconnect after a while, requiring me to manually reinitiate the connection each time I wanted to send a message.
Still, I did run into another downside with T-Mobile service. The Samsung phone wasn’t able to reach the T-Satellite service in two additional cellular dead zones that I traveled to, possibly because traditional cell networks were too close by. Instead, the phone refused to connect to any network, so satellite coverage isn’t always guaranteed.
T-Satellite failed to connect here, despite what the coverage map said. (Credit: T-Mobile)
Overall, T-Satellite’s performance is on par with Apple’s satellite messaging, so owners of the latest iPhones aren’t missing out. Both systems work, but message delivery can be delayed. T-Satellite’s appeal also takes a hit once the free beta ends on July 23, at which point most consumers will have to pay $10 per month to keep it. (Later this year, T-Satellite will support 911 texting to anyone with a compatible device, even if they’re not subscribed to the service.)
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That said, T-Satellite supports dozens of different Android phones, along with the iPhone 13 and up. And the FCC just relaxed a rule that allows T-Mobile and SpaceX to support more devices, particularly in emergency situations. Apple’s satellite service is exclusive to the iPhone 14 and later models.
T-Mobile also responded to the problem I faced when trying to use T-Satellite on an iPhone. “Apple’s service requires manual connection, which may be the issue in this case,” it told me. The carrier recommends ignoring the iPhone’s pop-up prompting a connection through Apple’s satellite system. Instead, T-Mobile says its T-Satellite network is always “listening” and will automatically connect when no other cellular network is available.
AST SpaceMobile and Skylo Waiting in the Wings
(Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)
When deciding which satellite service to use, consumers will no doubt weigh the cost, their phone model, and how often they face dead zones. Others might just enjoy the silence of a signal-free zone. But it’s easy to see how T-Satellite could be a huge help if you’re lost in a remote area or need emergency aid, even with the relatively brief message delays.
The market for satellite phone connectivity is also bound to change and become more competitive as SpaceX upgrades its service with new capabilities. On July 23, T-Satellite will receive support for MMS messages, enabling users to send images and short audio clips. Then on Oct. 1, the technology will add support for data on a select group of third-party apps, including AccuWeather and the hiking guide app AllTrails.
Over time, T-Satellite will also support voice and video calls, which promise to make the service far more useful in dead zones. But SpaceX might need to acquire more radio spectrum to do that. One study estimates that cellular Starlink currently offers download speeds around 4Mbps.
The other important factor is that Apple has only committed to offering eligible iPhones two to three years of free satellite service, with that perk set to begin expiring this fall. The big question is whether Apple will extend the free access or start charging iPhone users for satellite services, which will also be upgraded over time through the company’s satellite partner, Globalstar. (The upcoming iOS 26 has also been spotted supporting “Weather Updates via Satellite.”)
Other companies, including AST SpaceMobile and Skylo, are also working to deliver satellite connectivity to smartphones. So consumers can expect a range of satellite services, each vying to outdo the other in the coming years. Stay tuned for our coverage and more hands-on tests.
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About Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
