T-Mobile’s cellular Starlink beta will not only give users on rival carriers a taste of the company’s satellite connectivity but also function as a free trial for T-Mobile’s 5G network.
“The wait is almost over,” T-Mobile said in a Wednesday email to those who signed up for free beta access to the cellular Starlink service. “Our phone partners have been hustling to get more phones satellite-optimized, and in just a couple weeks, you’ll be invited to the beta.”
It then teases a few “extras” that come with the beta access, including “50GB of high-speed data and unlimited texts.”
(Credit: T-Mobile)
That’s an interesting wrinkle, especially for customers on rival carriers. They’ll get the chance to test-drive T-Mobile’s regular cellular network, and potentially switch if they like the experience.
Get Our Best Stories!
A Smart, Bold Take on the Wireless World
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
T-Mobile already offers a three-month free trial with 50GB of premium mobile data. The deal is conveniently available if your phone supports eSIMs, which let you download the free trial through a digital SIM card that can operate with your existing provider. The cellular Starlink beta is also available to those on rival carriers via eSIM.
In its email, T-Mobile notes that beta users get “benefits like $5 movie tickets, 25% off concert tickets, travel discounts, and T‑Mobile Tuesdays for free stuff and great perks every week.”
Recommended by Our Editors
The news underscores T-Mobile’s efforts to push Starlink beta testers on rival carriers over to T-Mobile. Last month, it dangled a free year of cellular Starlink connectivity for customers who ditched their carrier for T-Mobile. Last week, the company also lowered the price of the cellular Starlink service to $10 per month for both T-Mobile customers and users on rival carriers.
For now, SpaceX has exclusively partnered with T-Mobile in the US. AT&T and Verizon are working on their own satellite connectivity plans by partnering with Texas-based startup AST SpaceMobile. However, AST might need another year or two before it has enough satellites to deliver space-based connectivity to users on the ground.
5 Things to Know About Starlink Satellite Internet
About Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
