T-Mobile and Starlink switch on direct-to-cell service for Hurricane Milton-affected areas

Key Takeaways

• T-Mobile and Starlink are teaming up to provide satellite-based cell reception during emergencies like Hurricane Milton.
• The direct-to-cell network activation provides emergency communication well before it was planned to be ready for launch.
• Satellite emergency alerts are being activated for all phones in affected areas, with SMS messaging available for T-Mobile customers.

Historically, satellite phone service has been slow, expensive, and relatively exclusive, typically employed only by those visiting or working in remote areas where there's a decent chance of emergency.

Now, ahead of guaranteed danger in a highly populated area, as nigh-unprecedented Hurricane Milton dramatically approached landfall, T-Mobile and Starlink have teamed up again. This time, they're bringing potentially lifesaving, family-connecting, satellite-based cell reception to all T-Mobile users in the path of Florida's second devastating natural disaster in as many weeks.

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Communications aren't always the first to go during major weather events, but they do fail, and take forever to repair. One week ago, the cutting-edge rocket and reception providers propped up damaged mobile data infrastructure in the wake of Hurricane Helene. And Starlink just made another valuable contribution slightly farther south, in activating the nascent direct-to-cell network it's been building alongside T-Mobile.

This is a more interesting, challenging, and impressive decision than the post-Helene public Starlink deployment, and more useful than the "Starlink is now free for 30 days" offer that still required a $400 purchase. Direct-to-cell connectivity's notability comes down to its unfinished, essentially alpha-build status, as evidenced by the FCC's rushed approval of temporary authority for the cell and satellite carriers to activate the network.

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To say the least, it's not 5G-quality reception — but HD streaming and razor-thin latency aren't top priorities in emergency situations. So far, satellite emergency alerts have been enabled for all phones and carriers in affected areas. Additionally, 1 or 2 bars of reception should allow T-Mobile customers to send and receive SMS messages. When a concerned SpaceX fan inquired on Twitter/X as to the T-Mobile exclusivity, Elon Musk explained, "This is something we’re working on." Starlink's direct-to-cell technology leverages frequency bands within the currently assigned 4G spectrum, so nearly all phones with 4G LTE connectivity should be able to use it.

This isn't coming completely out of nowhere, as the venture was announced over 2 years ago. But while it's been slated for a late 2024 launch, we haven't seen any solid dates. Currently "being delivered on a best-effort basis," according to SpaceX, "The service works best outdoors, and occasionally works indoors near a window." This quick-thinking move will undoubtedly calm the fears of many with friends and family in the area, and could easily save lives during rescue, cleanup, and repair. Thanks, Starlink engineers.