Telstra is expanding text messaging beyond its mobile network.
Telstra has launched its brand new satellite messaging service, powered by Starlink.
Telstra Satellite Messaging will give Telstra customers the ability to send and receive texts beyond the range of its mobile network coverage.
After several months of testing, the service will now be available to Telstra customers using a Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, Galaxy S25 Ultra or Galaxy S25 Edge. Telstra says the rollout to all eligible customers should be completed over the coming weeks.
You’ll need to be signed up for one of Telstra’s Upfront mobile plans (or equivalent Business mobile plan).
iPhone, Google and other Android users will have to wait a little longer, but Telstra does intend to support more devices in the near future.
Telstra Consumer Executive Tom Beach said, “As part of our collaboration with SpaceX’s Starlink Direct to Cell, eligible Telstra customers can enjoy an additional layer of connectivity to share text messages to friends or family when outside the coverage of our mobile network.
“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.”
The service is available at no additional cost to customers but is still quite limited. Satellite to mobile technology currently enables basic text messaging (which does include emojis).
MMS messages (images, voice notes and videos), calls and data are still capabilities Telstra is exploring for the future and are dependent on the technology.
As a satellite product, it will only work when a mobile network is unavailable and you are outdoors with a clear line of sight to the sky.
Telstra says it will continue to test and refine the service, but still stresses that it is an intermittent service. The time it takes to send and receive text messages over satellite depends on your location, device and the availability of Starlink’s Direct to Cell satellites.
Unlike mobile network messaging, you may find some messages are received and sent immediately, while others may take several minutes or longer.
Satellite Messaging is intended to service Telstra customers in remote and regional parts of Australia by providing another option for connectivity. Importantly, Telstra Satellite Messaging is not a replacement for Triple Zero, as you cannot text emergency responders.
A Telstra spokesperson told WhistleOut that the telco is still working with many different providers to explore satellite connectivity, including Lynk Global, which it started trialling early in 2024.
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