As Winter Storm Fern approaches the U.S., T-Mobile has activated SpaceX’s StarLink cellular service for free in affected areas, giving customers a way to stay connected via satellite.
T-satellite usually costs an additional $10 for most users. But on Friday, T-Mobile said access had been provided “for all customers in potentially affected areas with compatible phones,” including the latest iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel handsets.
“The service supports basic text messaging if traditional communication is disrupted, helping people stay in touch with loved ones,” Carrier said. “T-Satellite also broadcasts wireless emergency alerts to compatible devices, regardless of wireless provider.”
The Weather Channel reported Fern “Destructive snow and heavy snow will spread across 34 states in the South, Midwest and Northeast on Monday.”
This tweet is currently unavailable. It is loading or has been removed.
T-Satellite also supports data for select apps, including Google Maps, and video calls on WhatsApp. But T-Mobile’s announcement suggests the company is limiting the service to texting, perhaps to avoid straining the network. The technology works by using more than 650 orbiting Starlink satellites to achieve cellular connectivity, allowing the user to stay connected when a traditional cell tower is out of sight.
T-Mobile later told us: “Customers who had already signed up (for T-Satellite) will continue to use the service as normal, and for other T-Mobile customers in storm-affected areas, we’ve turned on satellite text messaging at no cost so they can stay in touch with loved ones.”
Apple’s satellite ‘SOS’ mode activated in dead zone (Credit: PCMag/Michael Kahn)
T-Mobile isn’t alone in offering satellite connectivity. iPhone 14 and UP and Google Pixel 9 and 10 also have free access to their built-in satellite services, which can send text messages or contact emergency services. However, Apple is using satellite provider Globalstar while Google is tapping Skylo. Satellite services should pop up as an option if phones lose coverage through traditional cell towers.
Recommended by our editors
Rival carrier Verizon also offers emergency satellite connectivity on some phones. The catch is that satellite services work best with a clear view of the sky. This can be a problem for users facing snow and frigid temperatures, but you can sometimes get a satellite signal inside a car or near a window.
To prepare for the storm, major carriers are deploying generators, backup batteries, and even mobile cell sites to keep their networks up and running in the event of an outage. AT&T noted that it is “expanding network capacity during high call volumes.”
T-Mobile has also rolled out free texting to 911 via satellite for all customers, even on rival carriers. But interested users need to sign up for access.
Get our best stories!
A smarter, bolder take on the world
By clicking Sign Up, you confirm that you are 16+ years of age and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your membership has been confirmed. Watch your inbox!
About our expert
Michael Kahn
Senior reporter
Experience
I have been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite Internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware and more. I am currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s StarLink satellite Internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also regulatory battles over expanding satellite constellations, battles with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and efforts to expand satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and reached out to remote corners of California to test StarLink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling its personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint Investigation Along with the motherboard
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. Now I’m following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump into the comments with feedback and send me pointers.
Read full bio
