Image: T-Mobile
SpaceX’s Starlink and T-Mobile are teaming up once again, this time to make 911 access available to anyone in the U.S. — no matter which wireless carrier they use. The telecom giant this week announced a free satellite-based Text to 911 service that lets users with a compatible smartphone reach emergency services through T-Mobile’s T-Satellite network, powered by Starlink.
The new feature works even when users are completely off-grid, with no terrestrial cell coverage. T-Mobile says the service now covers over 500,000 square miles of the U.S. that aren’t reached by traditional cell towers.
“There’s a good chance you’ve had that moment in your life at some point. Badly rolled ankle deep into a backcountry hike. Stuck in a tree well while skiing. Flat tire on a backcountry road. Or a million other situations that require access to emergency services in a place without cell service. It’s an absolutely terrifying feeling that we don’t want anyone to have ever again,” said Mike Katz, President of Marketing, Strategy & Products at T-Mobile.
“T-Mobile Text to 911 with T-Satellite gives peace of mind. It’s there when you need it the most. And it’s too important to keep gated. Now all wireless users with a compatible phone can sign up for T-Mobile Text to 911 for absolutely free.”
T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service connects phones directly to Starlink’s array of more than 650 Direct to Cell satellites, which make up the first-generation constellation. The company says phones automatically switch to satellite connectivity when there’s no traditional network signal, no manual setup required — just a view of the sky.
Wireless users (including those on AT&T, Verizon, or any other carrier) must sign up for the free Text to 911 service before they can use it. Non–T-Mobile customers can enroll here, while T-Mobile users can add it through the “Manage Data & Add-Ons” section of their online account or in the T-Life app.
This announcement comes just a month after T-Mobile and Starlink launched satellite-based data and calling across the U.S. SpaceX isn’t slowing down either — the company recently asked the FCC for approval to launch up to 15,000 next-generation Direct to Cell satellites to expand global connectivity.
Starlink will also power Virgin Media O2’s upcoming satellite mobile service in the U.K. in early 2026. Meanwhile, SpaceX plans to begin testing Direct to Cell connectivity on its own spectrum in 2026 after a $17 billion deal with EchoStar.
T-Mobile’s latest offering could be a major milestone in making satellite-backed 911 coverage universal, ensuring help is only a text away — no matter where you are.
