AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
IND
Highlights
- Telstra teams up with SpaceX’s Starlink to provide satellite connectivity to remote areas in Australia.
- New technology will enable SMS capabilities for Telstra customers in satellite coverage zones.
- The partnership expands on an earlier 2023 agreement to offer voice and broadband services in rural regions.
Telstra, Australia's leading telecommunications company (ASX:TLS), has announced an exciting collaboration with SpaceX, the space technology company founded by billionaire Elon Musk. The partnership, revealed on Thursday, will see Telstra join forces with Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite-based internet provider, to bring cutting-edge satellite connectivity technology to Telstra customers in regional and remote areas of Australia.
This new initiative will introduce the Starlink-to-Mobile technology, enabling customers to send and receive SMS messages directly on compatible mobile phones using Starlink’s satellite network. The service will primarily benefit customers in remote locations where traditional mobile coverage is unavailable or unreliable. Telstra’s Group Executive of Global Network and Technology, Shailin Sehgal, explained that the partnership would allow Telstra users in these areas to stay connected as long as they are within line of sight to the sky, expanding mobile communication options in previously underserved regions.
“The collaboration would enable Telstra customers to send and receive SMSes on a compatible mobile phone in most parts of Australia where there is a direct line of sight to the sky,” Sehgal said. This marks a significant step in Telstra’s ongoing efforts to improve connectivity for Australians living in rural and remote areas, who often face challenges accessing reliable mobile services.
The announcement builds upon a previous agreement made in 2023 between Telstra and Starlink, where the two companies began offering voice-only and voice-plus-broadband services to customers in Australia’s rural and remote regions. These services allow for more comprehensive communication options, even in areas where terrestrial mobile networks do not reach. The updated collaboration will provide a seamless, satellite-backed service that promises to enhance connectivity in some of the country's most isolated locations.
This latest partnership follows the increasing demand for reliable mobile and internet services in underserved areas. With Starlink’s global satellite constellation, which uses low Earth orbit satellites to provide internet access, Telstra is looking to close the connectivity gap in regional Australia. This technology will complement Telstra’s existing infrastructure and improve the overall customer experience by ensuring that even remote users have access to essential communication services like SMS.
In addition to the business tie-up between Telstra and SpaceX, the collaboration has a unique connection to another of Elon Musk’s ventures. Robyn Denholm, the current chair of Tesla, Musk’s electric vehicle company, has an intriguing link to Telstra, having previously served as the telecommunications giant's finance and operations head. This connection further strengthens the relationship between the two companies, creating a robust foundation for future collaboration.
