(PCMag/Michael Kan)
SpaceX's cellular Starlink service is rolling out support for mobile apps, and one user has already tested the feature and posted a video of the results.
Mobile app support is available on Google's Pixel 10 phones for subscribers of T-Mobile’s T-Satellite plan. However, YouTuber Jake Pimental gained access last month through a Galaxy S25 Ultra phone, thanks to Samsung’s beta software. “It turns out that the T-Satellite data connectivity is enabled on One UI 8 beta on the Galaxy S25,” he said in a YouTube video.
The cellular Starlink service is designed to keep people connected in dead zones. The big question has been how well the system works since satellite connectivity is usually far more constrained than Earth-based cellular networks. Our testing has shown that the cellular Starlink service is sometimes instantaneous but occasionally takes several minutes to send a text message.
Pimental’s video shows the satellite data feature boasting some impressive capabilities. “I am pleased to report it does work,” he says while accessing Google Maps in his car. "I am using satellite imagery, and it loads very well. I really have no issue, even with the satellite version of Maps loading, never mind just the basic standard map.”
In the demo, the imagery on Google Maps loads relatively quickly, needing only a few seconds as he zooms in on the maps. However, lag can be an issue, causing the app to essentially pause for 30 seconds as it tries to load the data. Pimental notes: “There are still some gaps where you do not have a data connection or you do not have a good satellite connection.”
His other demos include using X and WhatsApp, two of the 13 mobile apps that the satellite data feature has started to support. Impressively, his phone is able to load not only tweets on X, but also images and even video, although the clip quality is constrained to 240p or 360p. In one demo, his phone appears to easily load and play a 6-minute video that CNET posted on X.
Pimental also says he was able to conduct a voice call and video call over WhatsApp, although the quality "wasn't the best."
SpaceX just reached a major deal to upgrade the cellular Starlink service with even more capacity and throughput. On Monday, the company announced a $17 billion deal with BoostMobile’s parent EchoStar to acquire its 2GHz radio spectrum.
SpaceX plans to harness the radio bands through its next-generation cellular Starlink satellites rather than the existing fleet. Still, the added spectrum is so monumental that SpaceX is boasting that its cellular Starlink service will be able to offer performance similar to ground-based LTE cellular networks. In the meantime, T-Mobile plans to officially launch the mobile app support for T-Satellite on Oct. 1.