Free Starlink satellite service awaits T-Mobile switchers who want to test the SpaceX dead zone coverage

T-Mobile is offering a free Starlink satellite coverage deal in emails sent to subscribers who signed up for the beta service it announced back in January.

As soon as SpaceX launched its constellation of 330 Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capabilities to communicate with unmodified cell phones on the ground, T-Mobile started the dead zone coverage service in beta.

The Starlink satellite coverage is currently free for anyone to try, including Verizon or AT&T subscribers. In July, however, it will become $20/month for them, so T-Mobile is now offering them to switch and get the Starlink satellite service free for a year in an email that reads:

An exclusive offer for beta registrants. Switch to T‑Mobile today, and you’ll receive a free year of satellite coverage for every line you register in the beta. Up to 12 lines.

Unfortunately, the free Starlink deal is not available to T-Mobile's current subscribers, who will have to start paying $15/month for it in July. Only customers on T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan will keep getting the Starlink satellite coverage service for free once it is out of beta then.

It remains to be seen how many takers will switch from Verizon or AT&T to T-Mobile for the free Starlink connectivity offer alone. The first direct-to-cell constellation currently allows traffic with low data consumption like messaging and image exchange, as well as podcast streaming. According to Elon Musk, the second generation will bring streaming video, too, all in remote areas where carriers don't have cell towers and wouldn't have offered any coverage otherwise.

T-Mobile's Starlink beta, however, only allows for messaging over satellite coverage at the moment, and it is offered to "optimized" phones that include Apple's newer handsets like the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

When the Starlink service on T-Mobile is out of beta later this summer, the scope of supported handsets will increase, and those who switch from other carriers will have the opportunity to have satellite coverage for free to test out in the span of a year.