Starlink is expanding its mobile satellite service into Mongolia through a new partnership with local carrier GMobile, according to an announcement posted directly by the @Starlink account on June 26. The service will allow customers — including herders, miners, and field workers spread across Mongolia's vast remote terrain — to communicate via apps and messaging where no ground-based network reaches.
Mongolia is a natural fit for this kind of expansion. The country covers roughly 1.5 million square kilometers, making it one of the least densely populated nations on earth, and traditional cellular infrastructure simply cannot economically serve its most remote regions. Starlink received its operating license in Mongolia back in July 2023, with initial residential dish service following in early 2024. This GMobile partnership marks a distinct next step — bringing Starlink's direct-to-cell mobile capability to standard smartphones through an established local operator rather than requiring owners to purchase dedicated hardware.
Starlink's current mobile satellite tier supports messaging and over-the-top voice apps via V1 Mobile satellites. Broadband data and IoT connectivity are expected to follow as the next-generation V2 satellite constellation matures, with that upgrade anticipated around 2027. For Mongolian users today, the immediate practical value is reliable text and app-based communication in areas where a dropped call or dead zone is the norm, not the exception.
The Mongolia launch fits into a broader pattern of Starlink signing carrier agreements across emerging markets where terrestrial coverage gaps are significant. No specific launch date beyond "soon" has been confirmed by either Starlink or GMobile at the time of publication.
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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