The boundary between cellular dead zones is disappearing across Canada and the U.S. as Rogers and T-Mobile expand their satellite-to-mobile roaming partnership.
T-Mobile customers travelling in Canada can access Starlink satellite connectivity via the Rogers network. This follows a move in mid-April when Rogers enabled its own customers to roam on T-Mobile’s T-Satellite network in the U.S., covering an extra 1.3 million square kilometres of territory where traditional towers simply don’t reach.
The service uses SpaceX’s Starlink Direct to Cell technology to keep users connected. When a phone enters an area without a traditional cellular signal, it automatically connects to satellites overhead. This allows for essential services like text messaging, text-to-911, and public safety alerts. It also supports basic data for popular apps such as Google Maps, WhatsApp, and AccuWeather.
This partnership is a reciprocal deal between two of SpaceX’s major global partners. While Rogers customers on select plans get U.S. satellite roaming at no extra cost, T-Mobile has now updated its T-Satellite support pages to confirm that Canada and New Zealand are officially part of its roaming footprint, according to a report from PCMag (viaTesla North).
In Canada, Rogers offers Starlink satellite connectivity as a $15 per month add-on for any customer and those from other providers. Eventually, we will likely see Starlink Mobile (the new name for Direct to Cell) roaming across the world through cellular partners.
As for Telus and Bell, their satellite connectivity for smartphones is coming soon through a partnership with AST SpaceMobile.
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