SpaceX has delivered over 10,000 Starlink kits to assist communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, and activated its Direct to Cell satellites in collaboration with T-Mobile to provide emergency alerts and basic texting services.
This initiative covers all phones and carriers in affected areas, enabling communication during critical times.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) quickly granted emergency special temporary authority to expand coverage in Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton.
As a result, basic SMS texting has been enabled for T-Mobile phones in hurricane-hit regions. This service allows users to send and receive text messages, contact 911, and receive emergency alerts.
If a phone connects to a Starlink satellite, it will display “T-Mobile SpaceX” in the network name, indicating a signal strength of one to two bars. Users may need to manually resend texts if the initial attempt fails, as the service is currently provided on a best-effort basis and works best outdoors or near windows.
“We have sent emergency alerts through the network, including evacuation notices and other messages, to help connect those in need,” said SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell.
“Thank you to the FCC for the rapid approval of this critical capability, which will support those impacted by Hurricane Helene and those in the path of Hurricane Milton. I am so proud of the Starlink, T-Mobile, and Falcon teams for their efforts,” she said.
SpaceX stated that emergency alerts have already been delivered using the Direct to Cell satellites, and T-Mobile customers in affected regions are now able to stay connected and informed despite the challenging circumstances.
Hurricane Milton is making its way to Florida—stay safe, folks.