SpaceXthrough its Starlink service, has achieved a major milestone in New Zealand, offering nationwide satellite coverage for text messages. One NZ has become the first telco in the world to launch a ssatellite messaging service national based on Starlink technology. This innovation is the result of Starlink’s international collaborations with partners in countries such as Canada, Australia, Japan, Peru, Switzerland and Chile, as well as T-Mobile in the United States.
The first mass satellite messaging service
Currently, the service supports only four smartphone models: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra e OPPO Find X8 Pro. However, compatibility is expected to be expanded to more devices over the next year. During the initial phase, text messages can be sent and received in around three minutes, but times could increase to “10 minutes or more” in the first few months, One NZ said.
“We continue to test the capabilities of the One NZ Satellite TXT service, which is still in its early stages but will improve over time,” said Joe Goddard, One NZ Commercial Director. “We are starting with a limited number of devices as part of a phased rollout of the technology. For now, customers can only send and receive text messages, but in the future we plan to offer voice and data calls as well.”
The service will be completely free, for now
The service will be free for existing customers with paid monthly plans, while One NZ has not yet clarified whether new customers or those with different contracts will have to pay an additional cost to access satellite coverage.
Starlink has already successfully tested the satellite messaging service with customers T-Mobile in the United States in the areas hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton last October. After receiving FCC approval in November, T-Mobile began recruiting customers to test Starlink’s U.S. beta program, expected early next year.
