{"id":17557,"date":"2026-07-26T07:23:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T02:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=17557"},"modified":"2026-07-26T07:23:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T02:23:23","slug":"t-mobile-ceo-looks-beyond-starlink-for-cellular-satellite-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=17557","title":{"rendered":"T-Mobile CEO Looks Beyond Starlink for Cellular Satellite Service"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"article\">\n<p>A year ago, T-Mobile partnered with SpaceX to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/tmobile-cellular-starlink-tsatellite-launch-everything-you-need-to-know\" target=\"_self\">launch T-Satellite<\/a>. But on the first-year anniversary, the carrier&#8217;s CEO is hinting that it could work with other satellite providers, too.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor us, it\u2019s clear that with time, this is no longer going to be a differentiation. It\u2019s going to be table stakes as a complementary service to have satellite along with your cellular service,\u201d T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan said during a Thursday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/7Lj19PlHbM4\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"(Opens in a new tab)\">earnings call<\/a> when asked about plans for T-Satellite.<\/p>\n<p>In the US, T-Mobile is the exclusive provider for SpaceX\u2019s cellular system, dubbed Starlink Mobile. On the call, the carrier confirmed the exclusivity period doesn\u2019t end this year, even though SpaceX CEO Elon Musk\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/elon-musk-cellular-starlink-will-only-be-exclusive-on-t-mobile-for-the\" target=\"_self\">said in 2024<\/a>\u00a0that T-Mobile had one year of exclusivity.<\/p>\n<p>Gopalan reiterated that T-Satellite is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/t-mobile-ceo-pretty-much-no-one-buys-satellite-standalone\" target=\"_self\">not a major part of the business<\/a>; it makes up only 0.0002% of the carrier\u2019s network, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/t-mobile-ceo-cellular-starlink-usage-lower-than-expected\" target=\"_self\">lower<\/a> than originally expected. \u201cIn our busiest summer months, that went to 0.0003%,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe think what\u2019s at stake now is to make the experience of the customer agnostic of which provider you are, agnostic of which device you are, and to pull spectrum so that we can actually make this a significantly better customer experience,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/articles\/03RiR8mW0C1l1xHWcQnVfeU-2.png\" data-lazy-sized=\"\" alt=\"tsat on phone\" data-image-path=\"articles\/03RiR8mW0C1l1xHWcQnVfeU-2.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\n    <small>(Credit: PCMag\/Michael Kan)<\/small>\n<\/p>\n<p>That mindset is &#8220;what drove&#8221; May\u2019s surprise <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/att-t-mobile-verizon-team-up-to-try-and-steer-satellite-to-phone-market\" target=\"_self\">joint venture<\/a> that T-Mobile formed with rivals AT&amp;T and Verizon to use satellites to address coverage gaps, Gopalan said. The goal is to pool radio spectrum to support satellite-to-phone services across providers. Although Starlink Mobile is already available in the US and other markets, rival companies, including\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/ast-spacemobile-delays-service-launch-to-2027-eyes-acquisitions\" target=\"_self\">AST SpaceMobile<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/amazon-to-take-over-apples-20-stake-in-globalstar-as-part-of-acquisition\" target=\"_self\">Amazon-Globalstar,<\/a>\u00a0are also working to beam satellite connectivity to phones.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, looking forward, the JV [joint venture] does allow for individual operators to have conversations and agreements with other parties. But our expectation is that the vast majority will be sourced through the JV,\u201d T-Mobile\u2019s CEO added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"py-4\" data-parent-group=\"related-stories\">\n<div class=\"mx-0 border border-b border-l-0 border-r-0 border-t border-gray-300 py-4 md:ml-8 md:mr-24\">\n<h3 class=\"font-stretch-ultra-condensed mb-2 text-lg font-semibold uppercase\">Recommended by Our Editors<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>T-Satellite\u2019s usage has likely been low because it only activates once a phone enters a cellular dead zone, usually in a remote or rural area too far from traditional cell towers. In addition, T-Satellite is only a free perk on the carrier\u2019s most expensive plans; for everyone else, it\u2019s $10 per month. The other issue is that it only offers speeds at around 4Mbps, and supports only certain mobile apps, when T-Mobile\u2019s 5G network can offer around 300Mbps in populated areas.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX has also been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/spacex-makes-starlink-mobile-official-not-competing-with-carriers-mwc-2026\" target=\"_self\">pitching<\/a> Starlink Mobile to potential carrier partners as a complementary service. But the satellite-to-phone market could drastically shift in the coming years since SpaceX is preparing to upgrade Starlink Mobile with 5G speeds up to 150Mbps. Eventually, its\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/starlink-mobile-will-target-cities-but-spacexs-ipo-hype-clouds-the-picture\" target=\"_self\">goal<\/a>\u00a0is to serve users in urban and suburban areas, raising speculation about whether SpaceX could pose a threat to traditional wireless carriers. AT&amp;T\u2019s CEO <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/atts-ceo-shrugs-off-starlink-threat-talks-up-growing-fiber-network\" target=\"_self\">isn\u2019t worried<\/a>, though.<\/p>\n<section xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"rich-text trinity-skip-it my-16 flex flex-col gap-6\" data-parent-group=\"author-bio\" aria-label=\"About Our Expert\">\n<h2 class=\"!m-0\">About Our Expert<\/h2>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-8\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-6 rounded-lg bg-white p-6 text-gray-700 shadow-box md:p-10\" id=\"flyout\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-label=\"Author Bio Flyout\">\n<div class=\"font-stretch-ultra-condensed flex items-center justify-between leading-tight\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-4\">\n                                                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-[60px] shrink-0 overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-gray-100 ring ring-white\" src=\"https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/authors\/06W4G6A5rmg4LxEffqKnnc6.fit_lim.size_100x100.v1560221550.png\" alt=\"Michael Kan\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col justify-center gap-1\">\n<p>Michael Kan<\/p>\n<p>Principal Reporter<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr class=\"!m-0 border-t border-gray-300\"\/>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-2\">\n<p>Experience<\/p>\n<div class=\"rich-text line-clamp-[7] text-base leading-normal\">\n<p>I&#8217;ve 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&#8217;m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country&#8217;s technology sector.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2020, I&#8217;ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX&#8217;s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I&#8217;ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink&#8217;s cellular service. <\/p>\n<p>I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/did-avast-sell-your-data-heres-how-to-get-a-piece-of-the-ftc-settlement\" target=\"_self\">the FTC forced Avast<\/a> to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/the-cost-of-avasts-free-antivirus-companies-can-spy-on-your-clicks\" target=\"_self\"><u>investigation<\/u><\/a> with Motherboard.<\/p>\n<p>I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/i-camped-out-at-best-buy-to-get-an-rtx-3000-graphics-card-feel-my-pain\" target=\"_self\">led me to camp out<\/a> in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I&#8217;m now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I&#8217;m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                        <a class=\"w-fit self-end text-base font-bold uppercase leading-none underline\" data-module=\"author-bio\" data-element=\"read-full-bio\" data-item=\"text_link\" data-position=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/authors\/michael-kan\" aria-label=\"Michael Kan 's Full Author Bio\" x-track-ga-click=\"\"><br \/>\n                        Read Full Bio<br \/>\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<p><script>\n    var facebookPixelLoaded = false;\n    window.addEventListener('load', function() {\n        document.addEventListener('scroll', facebookPixelScript);\n        document.addEventListener('mousemove', facebookPixelScript);\n    });\n    function facebookPixelScript() {\n        if (!facebookPixelLoaded) {\n            facebookPixelLoaded = true;\n            document.removeEventListener('scroll', facebookPixelScript);\n            document.removeEventListener('mousemove', facebookPixelScript);\n            window.zdconsent.cmd.push(function() {\n                ! function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) {\n                    if (f.fbq) return;\n                    n = f.fbq = function() {\n                        n.callMethod ? n.callMethod.apply(n, arguments) : n.queue.push(arguments)\n                    };\n                    if (!f._fbq) f._fbq = n;\n                    n.push = n;\n                    n.loaded = !0;\n                    n.version = '2.0';\n                    n.queue = [];\n                    t = b.createElement(e);\n                    t.async = !0;\n                    t.src = v;\n                    s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n                    s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s)\n                }(window, document, 'script', '\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n                fbq('init', '454758778052139');\n                fbq('track', \"PageView\");\n            });\n        }\n    }\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A year ago, T-Mobile partnered with SpaceX to launch T-Satellite. But on the first-year anniversary, the carrier&#8217;s CEO is hinting that it could work with other satellite providers, too. \u201cFor us, it\u2019s clear that with time, this is no longer going to be a differentiation. It\u2019s going to be table stakes as a complementary service&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.pcmag.com\/imagery\/articles\/03RiR8mW0C1l1xHWcQnVfeU-1.fit_lim.size_1200x630.v1784817903.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17557"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17557\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}