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Telstra has become the first telco to formally launch “direct-to-mobile” Starlink services in Australia.
On Tuesday (3 June), the company revealed that the service, initially available only for texting, has now begun for those with Samsung Galaxy S25 handsets, with a rollout to iPhone users set to follow soon.
The news comes weeks after Space Connect reported Telstra had already sent 55,000 practice texts, including testing undertaken in remote areas outside of its traditional mobile coverage.
It also means it has significantly won the race to launch direct-to-cell technology in Australia, with Optus and Vodafone planning rival services.
So-called “direct-to-cell” technology is unique because it does not require customers to obtain specific hardware and will work on all compatible handsets.
It works because the satellites essentially function as cell towers in space to expand terrestrial coverage into otherwise unreached areas.
“For eligible customers with a Samsung Galaxy S25 series device that has been updated with the latest software, Telstra Satellite Messaging will be added to your core plan inclusions, and you can start using this service as soon as it’s enabled,” said Telstra in a statement.
“The rollout of Telstra Satellite Messaging for all eligible customers should be completed over the coming weeks.
“This means you will be able to send SMS messages via the Starlink Direct to Cell satellite network to standard Australian and international numbers, in most places throughout Australia when the mobile network is unavailable and you are outdoors with a direct line of sight to the sky.”
Initially, the service will be limited to SMS-style texts, with voice functionality unlikely to be ready before 2027.
“Sending a text message with Starlink is a short burst of data,” said Telstra’s Channa Seneviratne.
“But with a phone call, you’re talking about something that is many minutes, and the satellite is moving at 25,000 kilometres an hour.”
The coverage expands beyond its usual mobile network, but it significantly does not include Western Australia’s radio quiet zone or remote offshore territories.
Space Connect previously revealed how Vodafone owner TPG sent its first “direct-to-mobile” text from the Northern Tablelands of NSW via the Lynk Global constellation.
TPG said its early tests used a range of popular smartphones, including the Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel handsets.
The first message, sent via a Vodafone network, read, “Happy Easter!”, a reference to the first-ever text message sent by the same telco in December 1992, which read “Merry Christmas”.
Optus, though, has been forced to delay its own Starlink service after SpaceX encountered regulatory hurdles in the US.
This article was originally published on Space Connect, Cyber Daily’s sister brand.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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