Starlink’s First Nationwide Satellite Texting Service Launches In New Zealand

SpaceX’s satellite-to-cell Starlink activity has deed a nationwide sum milestone successful New Zealand — albeit pinch a less limitations. One NZ says it’s nan first telecommunications institution globally to powerfulness a nationwide outer matter messaging activity via Starlink. Starlink has too signed up partners successful Canada, Australia, Japan, Peru, Switzerland, and Chile, partnering pinch T-Mobile successful nan US.

Only 4 telephone models are presently supported: nan Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and OPPO Find X8 Pro. Eligibility is expected to turn to overmuch devices adjacent year. Most matter messages tin beryllium sent and received incorrect 3 minutes during nan first rollout, according One NZ, though that whitethorn summation to “10 minutes aliases longer” during nan first less months.

“We proceed to proceedings nan capabilities of One NZ Satellite TXT, and this is an first activity that will get better. For example, matter messages will return longer to nonstop but will get quicker complete time,” One NZ’s Experience and Commercial Director Joe Goddard said. “We’re opening pinch a mini number of phones arsenic information of nan staggered rollout of nan technology. And critically, from coming customers tin nonstop and personification matter messages only, but successful nan future, we expect sound calling and accusation to too beryllium available.”

The One NZ Satellite TXT activity will beryllium free for existing customers connected paid-monthly plans. One NZ hasn’t revealed if caller customers aliases those connected different contracts will beryllium required to net an further liking to entree satellite-to-cell coverage.

Starlink’s text-by-satellite activity was antecedently piloted pinch T-Mobile customers successful areas affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton successful October. T-Mobile was granted FCC support for nan activity successful November, and is now signing up customers to proceedings nan US Starlink beta programme “early adjacent year.”