AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizonmade it clear earlier this month that their satellite joint venture (JV) wasn't merely symbolic. In an apparent bid to fend off SpaceX's Starlink, the Big Three are pooling their spectrum resources to bring multiple space-based operators on board and end dead zones.
While official press releases insist that existing carrier-satellite partnerships will continue as planned, T-Mobile has started putting some distance between itself and SpaceX.
Starlink who?
T-Mobile satellite phone service page before and after. | Image by T-Mobile
As first spotted by PCMag, T-Mobile has scrubbed references to Starlink from its main satellite landing page. Taking center stage instead is T-Satellite, its branding for direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity.
T-Mobile hasn't entirely wiped Starlink from its website, though, with mentions still lingering on its support and business pages. For now, anyway.
Poll
313 Votes
What's T-Mobile thinking?
Trying to intimidate SpaceX
8.95%
Might have found a new partner
40.26%
Trying to hide how scared it is
50.80%
What's really going on?
The joint venture between AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon aims to help fledgling players like Amazon Leo and AST SpaceMobile get off the ground. However, those D2D systems aren't fully operational yet, making SpaceX indispensable for T-Mobile.
T-Mobile even confirmed back in July that its exclusivity period with Starlink extends beyond this year. T-Mobile and Starlink aren't parting ways just yet; that much is clear.
Then why is T-Mobile deleting mentions of Starlink?
A PR move?
Another SpaceX partner, Canadian carrier Rogers Communications, also doesn't mention Starlink on its website. CEO Elon Musk is a controversial personality who is known not to hold back. He is friends with US President Donald Trump, another person who doesn't shy away from speaking his mind. The two ruffle plenty of feathers every day.
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Musk's political stance is believed to have hurt Tesla's sales. T-Mobile might be exercising caution by toning down its direct association with Starlink.
However...
A less poetic interpretation is that T-Mobile, like other providers, is scared of SpaceX. SpaceX plans to launch its own mobile service in the first half of 2028.
Meanwhile, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon cannot stop stressing how niche satellite connectivity is while simultaneously launching a satellite JV. The irony isn't lost on anyone.
Instead of a dramatic breakup, T-Mobile is slowly nudging Starlink out of the picture.
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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