Telstra's Starlink-powered text messaging to launch in coming months

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 15 May 2025

Galaxy S25 Ultra connected to Telstra Starlink

Telstra is closer to launching its Starlink-powered tech that will allow its customers to send text messages via satellite when they don't have mobile coverage. In a blog post detailing new testing milestones, the telco says the capability will be rolled out to eligible customers in the coming months.

When the tech goes live, Telstra customers will be able to connect to Starlink satellites that broadcast mobile spectrum. Existing phones can connect to these without the need for special equipment, but a software update may be necessary. A clear view of the sky is also required - even a verandah could be enough to interrupt the connection.

Telstra first announced the partnership with Starlink parent company SpaceX at the start of the year, and since the start of April has sent over 55,000 text messages using satellite-to-mobile technology. It has now kicked off a live trial where it has sent over 500 messages in areas outside of the Telstra mobile network.

Telstra has continued to position its Starlink partnership as a "just-in-case" option, as the satellites only have enough bandwidth to send a message. This won't include messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Messenger, either. Telstra Executive for Technology Engagement Advancement Channa Seneviratne even went so far as to describe satellite-to-mobile tech as an "intermittent service".

"The time it takes to send and receive messages depends on your location, your device and the availability of satellites overhead," said Seneviratne. "Customers will find some messages may be sent or received almost instantly, while others may take longer."

"Think of this new technology as a service for situations where you really need to get a message out or be contactable in some way in remote areas where our mobile network doesn’t reach."

Notably, Telstra's Starlink-powered mobile connectivity isn't designed to be an emergency service, since there's no way to text Australian emergency responders.

He did, however, note that Telstra does see a future where satellite-to-mobile technology has enough capacity to support mobile data and the ability to make calls.

One unknown is pricing: it is unclear whether Starlink connectivity will cost extra on top of a standard Telstra mobile plan. In the United States, T-Mobile will include the feature for free on some plans, but will charge other customers USD$15 per month for the capability.

Conversely, New Zealand telco One is offering Starlink connectivity for free on all of its postpaid plans. Its travel plans also currently include the feature, but One says this will only be free for a limited time.

Telstra has yet to make any comments on how it will approach pricing.

"We are working through these details and will share more when the product is ready to launch for customers," a Telstra spokesperson told WhistleOut.

Optus also has a partnership with SpaceX to launch Starlink-powered mobile connectivity, but there's no timeframe for when it will launch this. TPG is working with Lynk Global, a different satellite provider.

Looking for a new NBN plan?

These are the most popular NBN 50 plans with WhistleOut users this week:

#1	Dodo Editor's Pick	Dodo All Fixed Line nbn® Editor's Pick nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $87.99/mth. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99 Go to Site*	$57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99	Go to Site
#2	amaysim	amaysim All Fixed Line nbn® NBN50 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $40/mth off for the first 6 months ($30 NBN Sale + $10 Standard Intro offer), then $85/mth. Ends 04.10.26 $45/mth for first 6 months, then $85/mth Min. cost $45 Go to Site	$45/mth for first 6 months, then $85/mth Min. cost $45	Go to Site
#3	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom All Fixed Line nbn® Value Plus NBN 50/20 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25/mth off for the first 6 mths, $64.90/month for first 6 months, then $89.90/month. $64.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.90/mth Min. cost $64.90 Go to Site	$64.90/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.90/mth Min. cost $64.90	Go to Site
#4	TPG	TPG All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. T&Cs apply. $69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99	Link not supplied
#5	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband All Fixed Line nbn® Value nbn - Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 47/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25 off for the first 6 months. Promo code SPRING25. $95/mth after promo ends 15.11.26 $70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70 Link not supplied	$70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70	Link not supplied
#6	Superloop	Superloop All Fixed Line nbn® Extra-value nbn50/20 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $20/mth off for 6 months! $69/mth for 6 mths, then $89/mth + Bundle & Save $69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89/mth Min. cost $69 Go to Site	$69/mth for first 6 mths, then $89/mth Min. cost $69	Go to Site
#7	iiNet	iiNet All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Liimitless All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 6 mths – $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. Use code SAVE20FOR6 $69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99	Link not supplied
#8	Belong	Belong All Fixed Line nbn® NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $36 off for 6 months - $55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth (Offer ends 04.11.26) + Free $80 Mobile SIM $55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth Min. cost $55 Go to Site	$55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth Min. cost $55	Go to Site
#9	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet All Fixed Line nbn® Silver Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $11/mth off for 12mths. $69.90/mth for first 12 months then revert back to $80.90/mth. Offer available until withdrawn. $69.90/mth for first 12 mths, then $80.90/mth Min. cost $69.90 Go to Site	$69.90/mth for first 12 mths, then $80.90/mth Min. cost $69.90	Go to Site
#10	Flip	Flip All Fixed Line nbn® Unlimited Family nbn50 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $16.90/mth off for 6 months - $68/mth for first 6mths then $84.90/mth. New customers only. Ends 31.10.26. T&Cs apply. $68/mth for first 6 mths then $84.90/mth Min. cost $68 Go to Site	$68/mth for first 6 mths then $84.90/mth Min. cost $68	Go to Site

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

Read full bio