Some Samsung users on T-Mobile can now access Starlink satellites directly

Late last year, T-Mobile and SpaceX achieved a major milestone by securing approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for their Direct-to-Cell (DTC) service.

Powered by SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, the goal was to bring connectivity to areas with little or no cellular coverage, allowing users to stay connected without relying on traditional mobile networks.

Shortly after the approval, T-Mobile announced that beta testing for the service would begin in early 2025, with reports suggesting that it would be limited to compatible devices — primarily Android 15 phones registered to T-Mobile's postpaid plans.

Now, in a surprising move, T-Mobile has already begun rolling out satellite messaging to a select group of beta testers slightly earlier than expected. Several Galaxy S24 users have reported that the service was activated without any prior announcement or notification.

This rollout follows observations in December last year when some Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 users noticed a new 'Satellite Networks' option in their phone settings. At the time, the feature remained disabled, leaving users speculating about when it would become functional.

Now that the service is active for select beta testers, it is limited to basic text messaging, without support for voice calls or media transfers like photos or videos. While it may not replace traditional cell service due to these limitations and slower speeds compared to mobile networks, it represents a significant step forward in mobile technology.

T-Mobile has not made an official announcement yet, so it’s unclear what will happen next. It remains to be seen whether the satellite messaging service will roll out to other devices in the coming weeks or stay exclusive to the Galaxy S24 series for a while longer.