SpaceX does not sell a consumer Starlink phone plan directly yet; Starlink Mobile connectivity is sold through mobile carriers such as T-Mobile at US$10 a month per line as of October 2026 or Rogers at CAD $10 to CAD $15 a month as of October 2026, while multiple networks in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan provide it free on select plans. Starlink Mobile is a phone service, not Starlink dish internet; for dish pricing see Starlink pricing.
Starlink Mobile, formerly called Starlink Direct to Cell, connects standard LTE mobile phones directly to satellites. Because each carrier structures access differently, a user’s monthly cost depends entirely on their current carrier tier, ranging from no-charge plan inclusions to standalone monthly line fees.
Starlink Cell Phone Plans by Carrier
The table below lists the monthly cost and operational terms for every carrier that has deployed or announced a commercial Starlink phone plan as of October 2026.
| Carrier (country) | Monthly price (currency, October 2026) | Included free on | Who can sign up | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile T-Satellite (US) | US$10 a month per line | Top plans such as Experience Beyond | T-Mobile users, and other carrier subscribers including AT&T and Verizon | Texting, photos, location sharing, WhatsApp voice chat, select apps (AllTrails, Google Maps, X, AccuWeather, onX), free text-to-911 |
| Rogers Satellite (Canada) | CAD $10 to CAD $15 a month (CAD $10 for first 12 months for existing users, CAD $15 for new users) | Included on new Rogers 5G+ mobile plans; no cost during promotional periods | All Canadians on any carrier with a compatible device | Texting, photos via apps like iMessage, WhatsApp voice and video, select apps (Messenger, Google Maps, X, AllTrails, AccuWeather, onX, CalTopo), text-to-911 |
| Telstra (Australia) | No separate charge | Included on Telstra Consumer and Small Business Upfront Mobile plans (JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys excluded) | Telstra Upfront mobile subscribers | SMS only for messaging; separate Select Satellite Apps feature uses plan data allowance; no voice calls, no 000 emergency access |
| One NZ (New Zealand) | Free or NZ$5 a month (Satellite TXT); NZ$20 a month (Satellite Data) | TXT free on all Pay Monthly and NZ$50+ Prepay plans; Data included on One Plan, One Team Plan, and Unlimited Prepay | One NZ mobile subscribers | Texts with photos, voice notes, and short video; paid Satellite Data supports maps, WhatsApp, Messenger calls, and Meta AI |
| au/KDDI (Japan) | ¥0 for au users; ¥1,650 a month tax included for other carriers; ¥550 a month on other UQ mobile plans | Included at no extra charge for au subscribers; ¥0 on select UQ mobile plans | au subscribers, UQ mobile users, and customers of other networks including povo | SMS, RCS, iMessage with photos and video, select apps; no voice calls, no emergency 110/119 access |
| NTT Docomo (Japan) | Free for the time being | Included on all Docomo plans, including ahamo | NTT Docomo and ahamo subscribers | No separate sign-up required; check Docomo’s page for features |
| SoftBank (Japan) | No additional cost | Included on applicable SoftBank and LINEMO plans | SoftBank and LINEMO customers | Satellite direct connection; paid tier for other plans is not published |
| O2 Satellite (UK) | £3 a month Bolt On | Included in O2 Ultimate Plan | O2 Pay Monthly customers | Texting, location sharing, apps including WhatsApp, Messenger, maps, and weather; no voice or emergency calling |
| Entel (Chile) | 200 SMS included by promotion on select plans; CLP $50 per extra SMS (with VAT) | Included on plans from CLP $12.990, Te Sumo, and Persona Mayor | Entel mobile subscribers in Chile | Satellite SMS; Peru pricing not published |
| Kyivstar (Ukraine) | Free within existing tariffs | Included for all subscribers | Kyivstar mobile subscribers | Satellite SMS; app messaging in testing since June 2026 |
| SpaceX direct (US) | Not published | Not announced | Not launched | No consumer plan published; SpaceX says its October 8, 2026 spectrum deal will pave the way once the FCC gives final approval |
| Boost Mobile (US) | Not published | Not launched | Not launched; Boost subscribers are to get access under the September 2025 EchoStar and SpaceX deal | Next-generation direct-to-cell service planned; no commercial launch date |
| Optus (Australia) | Not published | Not launched | Not launched | Missed late-2024 target; no updated timeline announced |
Commercial pricing splits into two models across these regions. In the United States and Canada, operators treat satellite connectivity primarily as a premium tier or paid add-on. Domestic users pay between US$10 and CAD $15 a month unless their plan includes the service.
In Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Ukraine, operators include basic satellite messaging on many plans at no extra charge. Telstra, au, Docomo, SoftBank, and Kyivstar bundle satellite messaging into standard monthly rates with no separate line fee. SpaceX itself does not sell phone subscriptions directly, leaving consumer pricing entirely in the hands of carrier billing departments.
Is Starlink Mobile Worth It?
A paid Starlink Mobile plan is worth the subscription cost if you are often beyond cell towers and need satellite connectivity. It is not worth the expense for people who stay in coverage or who carry hardware that already supports free emergency satellite texting.
Before paying for a monthly subscription, evaluate whether existing mobile features meet your safety requirements:
- iPhone 14 and later get Messages via satellite and Emergency SOS via satellite free for two years after activation (Apple Support).
- Verizon provides basic satellite texting through Skylo on select Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel handsets at no extra fee for standard SMS.
- AT&T’s partner AST SpaceMobile has not launched commercial service.
Starlink Mobile introduces several technical limitations that set it apart from terrestrial mobile towers:
- Direct line of sight: Handsets require a clear view of the open sky. Carriers say service may not work indoors.
- Latency and delays: Carriers note that messages can be delayed.
- App-based voice: Real-time calling is limited to third-party VoIP services like WhatsApp on networks that permit it, such as T-Mobile and Rogers.
- Restricted emergency access: Telstra, au, and O2 do not allow emergency phone calls over the satellite link (including 000 in Australia and 110/119 in Japan).
Pay the US$10 to CAD $15 monthly fee if your travels take you into remote terrain without cellular towers and you require non-emergency app communication or photo transmission. If you already have free satellite texting, Apple’s free satellite features or free text-to-911 cover emergencies without added monthly line items.
United States Carrier Options: T-Mobile, Boost, and US Mobile
In the United States, carrier options for Starlink Mobile are defined by T-Mobile’s commercial launch and future expansion agreements.
As of October 2026, T-Mobile’s T-Satellite costs US$10 a month per line, auto-renewing monthly. The carrier includes this access at no added cost on its premium tiers, such as Experience Beyond. Customers using rival providers, such as AT&T and Verizon, can subscribe to T-Satellite as a standalone add-on for US$10 a month per line on compatible handsets. Emergency text-to-911 over satellite is accessible without charge to anyone with a compatible phone, regardless of carrier plan. Complete technical requirements and supported hardware are detailed in our guide to T-Mobile T-Satellite.
Other United States brands do not offer active Starlink phone plans today:
- Boost Mobile does not operate a live satellite-to-phone service, and no retail price is published, as reported by Light Reading. Under an EchoStar deal signed in September 2025, Boost subscribers are slated to gain access to next-generation direct-to-cell service from SpaceX, but no commercial release date has been provided. Boost retail stores sell Starlink dish home internet, which is a fixed hardware product rather than an LTE mobile phone plan.
- US Mobile markets an offer that bundles a standard mobile plan with Starlink Residential home internet; it does not sell a satellite-to-phone direct cellular service.
- Verizon and AT&T do not sell Starlink Mobile access. Verizon relies on Skylo for basic SMS on select devices, while AT&T is partnered with AST SpaceMobile. A comprehensive breakdown of network competition is available in our analysis of Starlink Mobile vs cell carriers.
On October 8, 2026, SpaceX updates noted an 800 MHz spectrum agreement designed to pave the way for Starlink Mobile to become a major mobile carrier in the United States once the FCC issues final regulatory clearance. Until that direct service receives full regulatory approvals and launches, T-Mobile remains the sole commercial provider of Starlink phone service in the United States.
Canada: Rogers Satellite Pricing and Eligibility
Canada’s satellite mobile service is provided by Rogers, which completed a free texting beta that began in July 2025 and launched commercial operations as Rogers Satellite on December 9, 2025.
Rogers structures consumer pricing around customer tenure and plan tiers:
- Existing Rogers mobile subscribers pay CAD $10 a month as of October 2026 for the first 12 months, after which the charge adjusts to the standard CAD $15 monthly rate.
- New Rogers customers pay CAD $15 a month per line.
- The service is included at no extra cost on new Rogers 5G+ mobile plans, with promotional terms offering access at no added charge during promotional periods.
- The service is open to all Canadians on any wireless provider who carry a compatible LTE smartphone.
For setup instructions and regional coverage guidelines, consult our guide to Rogers Satellite.
Australia, New Zealand, and Japan: Plans and Inclusions
Across the Asia-Pacific region, several mobile network operators provide Starlink direct-to-cell features, frequently offering free access on eligible plans.
In Australia, Telstra launched Telstra Satellite Messaging in June 2025. Telstra charges no separate monthly fee for satellite messaging, including it on Consumer and Small Business Upfront Mobile plans. Upfront plans purchased through third-party retailers JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys are excluded from this inclusion. The base service is restricted to standard SMS. A separate Select Satellite Apps feature provides data access for designated mobile applications, but this usage draws directly against the customer’s regular monthly data allowance. Telstra’s satellite link does not support standard voice calls, and subscribers cannot place emergency calls to 000 over the satellite connection. Optus, listed as a partner on Starlink’s site, missed its late-2024 target and has not published pricing or a revised launch date.
In New Zealand, One NZ introduced commercial satellite connectivity in December 2024 with a two-tiered structure:
- As of October 2026, Satellite TXT is provided at no charge on all Pay Monthly plans and on Prepay plans costing NZ$50 or more per month. Other prepay customers can add text capability for NZ$5 a month. Texts can include photographs, voice notes, and short video files.
- Satellite Data is bundled into the One Plan, One Team Plan, and Unlimited Prepay tiers. Customers on other plans can purchase it as an add-on for NZ$20 a month. This data tier supports mapping services, Meta AI, and WhatsApp and Messenger calls.
In Japan, three major mobile network providers have deployed Starlink satellite services:
- KDDI launched au Starlink Direct in April 2025, according to its au service page. Service is free for au brand subscribers, though KDDI notes terms may adjust with future notice. As of October 2026, customers on other mobile networks, including povo, pay ¥1,650 a month including tax, as outlined on the exclusive plan page. Other UQ mobile subscribers pay ¥550 a month, while selected UQ plans include it at ¥0. KDDI supports SMS, RCS, iMessage, and select apps, but excludes voice calling and emergency access to 110 and 119.
- NTT Docomo launched commercial service on April 27, 2026. Docomo provides the connection free of charge on all tiers, including its digital ahamo brand, without requiring a manual sign-up process.
- SoftBank launched its connection on April 10, 2026. The direct connection carries no added fee on compatible SoftBank and LINEMO plans. SoftBank has not published pricing for a standalone paid tier for non-eligible plans.
United Kingdom and Other International Markets
Starlink Mobile deployments in Europe and South America show differing approaches to pricing, with services ranging from fixed monthly add-ons to free baseline tariffs.
In the United Kingdom, Virgin Media O2 launched O2 Satellite on February 26, 2026. As of October 2026, the service is available as a £3 monthly Bolt On for O2 Pay Monthly customers and is included in the O2 Ultimate Plan since March 2026. O2 Satellite enables standard text messaging, location sharing, and data access for select applications, including WhatsApp, Messenger, mapping tools, and weather updates. The network does not support standard voice calls or emergency calling over satellite. Salt in Switzerland has not launched and has no published price.
In South America, Entel Chile introduced commercial satellite SMS in November 2025. As of October 2026, an Entel promotion includes 200 satellite SMS on plans from CLP $12.990, as well as on Te Sumo and Persona Mayor plans. Once a user consumes the 200 included text messages, additional satellite SMS cost CLP $50 each, including value-added tax (VAT). Entel has not published pricing for Peru.
In Ukraine, mobile operator Kyivstar activated satellite SMS in November 2025. Kyivstar provides satellite text messaging free of charge within standard tariff plans for all subscribers. Testing for data-based app messaging began in June 2026.
Readers exploring the underlying orbital technology supporting these regional networks can review our technical primer on direct to cell satellite systems.
What Would Change These Prices
The current structure of Starlink cell phone pricing is not static. Several commercial milestones and regulatory decisions could alter monthly rates over the coming years:
- SpaceX direct consumer operations: If the FCC gives final approval to SpaceX’s 800 MHz spectrum deal, Starlink Mobile could become a major mobile carrier in the United States.
- Boost Mobile launch: When EchoStar and Boost Mobile initiate commercial satellite service under their September 2025 agreement, Boost subscribers are slated to gain direct-to-cell access.
- Promotional period expirations: Operators such as au in Japan and Rogers in Canada explicitly note that their free access tiers apply during promotional phases or for the time being, meaning carrier adjustments could shift free plans into paid add-ons.
- Additional carrier deployments: Optus (Australia) has given no new timeline, and Salt (Switzerland) has not launched.
To track how carrier satellite agreements fit into SpaceX’s wider space segment, read our system overview of Starlink Mobile explained.