Australian telecommunications giant Telstra has announced a partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to provide satellite connectivity to its regional customers.
The collaboration includes the integration of SpaceX’s Starlink-to-Mobile technology, enabling satellite broadband connectivity directly to compatible mobile phones, especially in remote areas.
“The collaboration will allow Telstra customers to send and receive SMS on compatible mobile phones in most parts of Australia with a direct line of sight to the sky,” said Shailene Segal, Telstra Group CEO, Global Networks and Technology.
This partnership builds on a 2023 agreement between Telstra and Starlink to provide voice-only and voice-plus-broadband services in rural and remote areas.
The partnership also ties into Elon Musk’s broader projects, with former Telstra CEO Robin Denholm heading up Tesla, the American electric car manufacturer where Musk is CEO.