The announcement suggests SpaceX’s partner, T-Mobile, might eventually offer the same cross-border access for US customers.
Canadians can now use SpaceX’s satellite-to-phone service, Starlink Mobile, in their home country and while roaming in the US.
Canadian mobile carrier Rogers Communications already offered Starlink Mobile domestically, but on Thursday, it expanded satellite connectivity to customers traveling south.
Starlink Mobile access will pop up on phones that enter “dead zones” beyond the range of traditional cell towers. As a result, the satellite roaming capability could be useful for Canadians traveling in remote areas, such as hiking destinations.
“For Rogers customers, satellite-to-mobile roaming in the US is included with Popular or Ultimate plans with US coverage, Roam Like Home, and select Travel Passes at no extra cost,” it says.
To enable the cross-border feature, Rogers partnered with T-Mobile, which offers its own Starlink Mobile implementation called T-Satellite that automatically activates in dead zones.
The announcement naturally prompts us to wonder whether T-Mobile will offer the same cross-border arrangement for its own users. For now, the carrier merely told PCMag: “We don’t have additional details to share on this yet, but stay tuned.” In the meantime, T-Satellite works in dead zones across the continental US, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and parts of southern Alaska.
Rogers announced the capability after Japan’s KDDI Au carrier also began offering Starlink Mobile access to subscribers traveling to the US, first for Android handsets and later for iPhones.
Apple’s built-in satellite messaging in dead zones has also been available for free on iPhones. But SpaceX’s solution has stood out for its ability to power data for select mobile apps, including video calls on WhatsApp and directions on Google Maps. T-Mobile has been gradually expanding the list of supported apps to include Yahoo Mail, Apple Music, and hiking apps. In addition, SpaceX is preparing to drastically upgrade connectivity with 5G at 150Mbps download speeds using next-generation satellites starting next year.
In T-Mobile’s case, Starlink Mobile access has been offered mostly as a paid add-on, though it’s also a free perk on the carrier’s most premium plans. Non-T-Mobile users can sign up for the service too, but it requires calling the carrier or visiting a physical T-Mobile store.
