Telstra launches satellite to mobile text service which will benefit regional Australia

Telstra has launched a new satellite to mobile text messaging service that is accessible when your mobile coverage is out of range, as part of its collaboration with Elon Musk’s Starlink.

A new satellite to text messaging service has launched in Australia, making it possible to send or receive texts from outdoor locations when your mobile coverage is out of range.

Telstra has launched the product to give mobile customers the ability to send or receive texts beyond the network’s mobile range, benefiting users who live work or travel in regional or remote parts of Australia.

The service will help farmers in a back paddock, a person on a remote hike or someone who’s broken down or has a flat tyre on a country road.

Telstra has launched Australia’s first satellite to mobile text messaging service that works when your network is out of range. Picture: Supplied

Telstra engineers and employees have been testing the technology for months in some of the nation’s most remote locations.

Currently, the service only supports texts messages (and emojis) on the Samsung Galaxy S25 series family, but future satellite to mobile capability is expected to extend to other devices, data and making calls.

Telstra consumer executive Tom Beach said the service was part of a collaboration with Space X’s Starlink Direct to Cell.

Telstra is launching the first satellite to mobile text messaging service in Australia. Picture: Supplied

“Being able to send or receive a text message from an outdoor location that is beyond the range of our mobile network is a significant step forward and reinforces our commitment to pioneer new connectivity options for Australians,” he said.

“As a new technology, satellite to mobile messaging is currently limited to text messaging only, and, whilst complementary, this service is separate and performs differently to our mobile network.

“Following launch, we will continue to test and refine the service so we can continue to offer the best product we can for customers.”

Originally published as Telstra launches satellite to mobile text service which will benefit regional Australia