June 23 (Reuters) - T-Mobile will introduce a
data service on its satellite-to-cell network, powered by
SpaceX's Starlink, at the start of October, the company's head
of marketing, strategy and products said during a live event in
Bellevue.
Over 1.8 million customers have signed up for the service
since its beta program launch at the end of 2024, including
"hundreds of thousands of customers from AT&T ( T ) and Verizon," Mike
Katz said on Monday.
T-Satellite will commercially launch on July 23, with SMS
texting, MMS, picture messaging and short audio clips. On
October 1, it will launch a data service to allow application
experiences on the satellite network.
With over 657 Starlink satellites supporting customers with
the service, the U.S. wireless carrier is looking to eliminate
mobile dead zones and extend connectivity to more than 500,000
square miles in the U.S. that traditional cell towers can't
reach, including those of Verizon and AT&T ( T ).
"The vast majority of signups was after we did the Super
Bowl ad," Katz told Reuters in an interview.
Katz said that the satellite beta adoption has been fairly
balanced between the top 100 markets and small town rural areas
in the U.S.
T-Satellite will be included at no extra cost with
T-Mobile's new "Experience Beyond" plan. For others - including
AT&T ( T ) and Verizon customers - the service will be available for
$10 per month.
T-Mobile said that it anticipates satellite-enabled apps
from AccuWeather, AllTrails, Apple, Google, WhatsApp and X,
among many others in the future.