T-Mobile and Starlink have been working since 2022 to bring direct-to-cell satellite service to T-Mobile subscribers. Now, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has signed off, in an industry-first. The commission says bringing satellite cell service to mobile customers has "critical public interest benefits."

However, as The Verge points out, there are some restrictions in the FCC filing. SpaceX cannot yet increase the radio emission power of its Starlink satellites. Companies such as

The FCC has granted SpaceX permission to go forward with plans to offer a direct-to-phone version of its Starlink satellite internet service, with

The companies announced a partnership in 2022 and the first set of satellites for the venture were launched into low-Earth orbit in January.

The T-Mobile license is the first collaboration between a satellite operator and wireless carrier to be approved by the FCC to provide supplemental cell coverage from space. “The Commission recognized that satellite-to-device connectivity can support critical public interest benefits,

The FCC approved T-Mobile and SpaceX's license to provide supplemental telecom coverage from space to eliminate dead zones.

Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology represents a significant leap forward in mobile telecommunications. By partnering with leading telecom companies around the world, including T-Mobile in the U.S., Starlink aims to bridge connectivity gaps that have long plagued rural and isolated areas.

The FCC also granted Starlink's request to provide service to cell phones (aka "direct-to-cell") outside the United States. For non-US operations, Starlink must obtain authorization from the relevant governments. The non-US operations are authorized in various sub-bands between 1429 MHz and 2690 MHz.

SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network has earned a groundbreaking Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval, marking a significant step toward delivering direct-to-phone connectivity for T-Mobile customers.