SpaceX’s satellite-to-cell Starlink service has hit a nationwide coverage milestone in New Zealand – albeit with some limitations. A NZ says it is the world’s first telco to power a nationwide satellite text messaging service via Starlink. Starlink has signed up partners in Canada, Australia, Japan, Peru, Switzerland and Chile with T-Mobile in the US.
Only four phone models are currently supported: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and OPPO Find X8 Pro. The ability is expected to expand to more devices next year. During the initial rollout most text messages can be sent and received within three minutes, According to a NZHowever this may increase to “10 minutes or more” during the first few months.
“We continue to test One NZ Satellite TXT’s capabilities, and this is an early service that will only get better. For example, text messages will take longer to send but will get faster over time,” said One NZ experience and business director Joe Goddard. “We’re starting with a small number of phones as part of an amazing rollout of technology. And seriously, as of today customers can only send and receive text messages, but in the future, we expect voice calling and data to be available as well.
The One NZ Satellite TXT service will be free for existing customers on pay-monthly plans. A NZ has not disclosed whether new customers or those on other contracts will have to pay additional fees to access satellite-to-cell coverage.
