Starlink Expands Satellite Connectivity Directly To Cellular Outside T-Mobile

EchoStar licenses the AWS-4 and H-block spectra to SpaceX (photo: x @Tanya_Woods7466 ·)

JAKARTA - SpaceX and the company behind the Boost Mobile, the EchoStar, have struck a deal that will strengthen Starlink's direct satellite mobile service. The EchoStar agreed to license the AWS-4 and H-block spectra to SpaceX in a deal worth up to $17 billion, with half in cash and half in SpaceX shares.

For iPhone users, the deal will expand Starlink satellite mobile services outside T-Mobile, which is currently an exclusive mobile service provider in the US for Starlink services.

As part of this transaction, SpaceX and EchoStar will establish long-term commercial agreements, which allow Boost Mobile subscribers through cloud-based 5G cores to access next-generation Starlink Direct to Cell services.

In February, T-Mobile announced plans to integrate Starlink with its mobile network before launching a limited beta. The service officially launched in the summer with plans to support T-Mobile subscribers and iPhone users on other networks.

Starlink's integration with Boost Mobile is not imminent, but this development puts EchoStar's operators next to adopt SpaceX satellite services.

Apple supports operator satellite services with iOS 18.5 and iPhone 13 or later. Earlier this year, Apple added an option on iOS to shut down operator satellite services.

Separately, Apple also supports satellite communications for Emergency SOS on all the latest iPhone models, and is likely to be available soon on Apple Watch.