T-Mobile is making its Starlink-based “Text to 911” service available to off-grid wireless users — even those who subscribe to AT&T or Verizon — as long as they have a compatible phone.
T-Satellite with Starlink, a service that makes the low Earth orbit (LEO) provider’s 650-plus satellite fleet available to the carrier’s subscribers, was introduced in July. The service provides communications capabilities when towers are unavailable due to distance or disruption. In such cases, the switch to the satellite network is immediate.
It now is expanding to support other carriers’ customers. T-Mobile seeks to reduce the cases of people being in a tough spot without the ability to call 911 for help.
“It’s an absolutely terrifying feeling that we don’t want anyone to have ever again,” Mike Katz, T-Mobile’s President of Marketing, Strategy & Products, said in a press release. “T-Mobile Text to 911 with T-Satellite gives peace of mind. It’s there when you need it the most. And it’s too important to keep gated. Now all wireless users with a compatible phone can sign up for T-Mobile Text to 911 for absolutely free.”
For T-Mobile subscribers, T-Satellite — which includes messaging, text to 911, data and location services, and other services — is included with Go5G Next and Experience Beyond plans, T-Priority (for individuals and businesses) and SuperMobile.
T-Satellite can be added à la carte to any other T-Mobile plan for $10 per month, and Text to 911 is available for free as a standalone option to all T-Mobile customers, including business customers, with a compatible device.
Non-T-Mobile customers can buy T-Satellite a la carte for $10 per month if they have a compatible device. All wireless users with a compatible device can now enroll for free access to T-Mobile Text to 911.
The press release said that T-Mobile Text to 911 with T-Satellite “automatically defers” to emergency services available on some iPhones and recent Google Pixel phones.
The median download speeds for T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service operating via SpaceX remained stable, according an Ookla’s Speedtest report released last month. It’s worth noting in the context of the new service that AT&T customers accounted for about one third of all T-Satellite connections during this 10-month period.
