Jan 28 (Reuters) – Apple’s (AAPL.O) iPhone devices can now participate in testing SpaceX-owned Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology, which enables satellite-based coverage, according to T-Mobile (TMUS.O), a key partner in the program.
T-Mobile and Elon Musk’s SpaceX have been conducting trial runs of the Starlink cellular network since receiving approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in November last year.
The ongoing trial currently supports “text via satellite,” with plans to introduce voice and data capabilities in the future, as per T-Mobile’s website. Initially, only select Android smartphones were eligible for testing, but iPhones with the latest iOS 18.3 update have now been added.
Bloomberg News first reported on Tuesday that Apple, SpaceX, and T-Mobile had been discreetly working to integrate support for the network in the latest iPhone software.
Apple and SpaceX did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment outside regular business hours.
In October last year, the FCC granted permission for SpaceX and T-Mobile to activate Starlink’s direct-to-cell capability, allowing satellite coverage for mobile devices in areas of North Carolina severely impacted by Hurricane Helene.
