T-Mobile has quietly expanded its Starlink-powered satellite service beyond U.S. borders, giving subscribers a way to stay connected in Canada and New Zealand even when there's no cell tower in sight. The expansion marks a meaningful step for SpaceX's Direct-to-Cell technology, which turns orbiting satellites into de facto cell towers for standard 4G LTE handsets.
In Canada, T-Satellite runs through the Rogers network; in New Zealand, it operates via One NZ — both of which are existing SpaceX partners. The service kicks in automatically when a compatible device loses its terrestrial signal, so there's nothing to manually activate. Supported use cases include SMS, emergency texts to 911, and a curated set of apps: WhatsApp voice and video messages, Google Maps, AllTrails, AccuWeather, X, and T-Mobile's own T-Life app. Video calls are supported as well.
Pricing depends on your plan. T-Mobile customers on premium tiers — Experience Beyond, Go5G Next, Go5G Business Next, and T-Priority — get T-Satellite included at no extra charge. Everyone else, including subscribers on standard T-Mobile plans and customers of other carriers like AT&T or Verizon, can add the service for $10 per month, provided they have an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone. The service formally exited beta and became a paid commercial offering around July 2025.
T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert has acknowledged that real-world usage has been lower than anticipated, with most activity concentrated in remote areas like national parks — which is arguably exactly the scenario the technology was designed for. The company says it's actively working with additional international partners to expand satellite roaming to more destinations, and SpaceX has broader ambitions to roll out IoT, data, and full voice support globally, with next-generation V2 satellites intended to deliver 5G connectivity. For now, Canada and New Zealand represent the first concrete steps beyond the U.S. for this particular partnership.
Sarah focuses on Tesla Energy, SpaceX missions, and the broader Musk AI portfolio. Former data analyst in clean energy. Based in San Francisco.
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