The US Federal Communications Commission has allowed SpaceX to use Starlink satellite internet on smartphones in partnership with T-Mobile, reports TechCrunch.

In the summer of 2022, SpaceX and T-Mobile announced a project to launch satellite internet on smartphones, indicating that they plan to launch it in 2023. In October 2023, temporary permission was granted to use this technology to send emergency messages after hurricanes. Now, the US Federal Communications Commission has granted full permission for the use of Starlink.

There are still restrictions in the US for satellite mobile communication service, which must act as an extension of existing terrestrial service. In the spring of 2023, Starlink successfully conducted a test video call via satellite internet, and in October, together with T-Mobile, it enabled the sending of hundreds of thousands of text messages after hurricanes Helen and Milton.