Jan 9 (Reuters) - Top Australian telco Telstra ( TTRAF )

said on Thursday it is collaborating with billionaire Elon

Musk's SpaceX to bring satellite connectivity technology to its

regional customers.

Telstra ( TTRAF ) has partnered with satellite-based internet provider

Starlink to bring the latter's Starlink-to-Mobile technology to

Australia, enabling the U.S. firm to deliver satellite broadband

connectivity directly to compatible mobile phones, particularly

in remote areas.

"The collaboration would enable Telstra ( TTRAF ) customers to send

and receive SMSes on a compatible mobile phone in most parts of

Australia where there is a direct line of sight to the sky,"

said Telstra Group ( TTRAF ) Executive of Global Network and Technology

Shailin Sehgal.

This is not the first collaboration between the two firms;

in 2023, Telstra ( TTRAF ) signed an agreement with Starlink to offer

voice-only and voice-plus-broadband services in rural and remote

areas of Australia.

Additionally, U.S. EV maker Tesla, where Musk

serves as the CEO, is chaired by Robyn Denholm, a former finance

and operations head of Telstra ( TTRAF ).