T-Mobile sent a test emergency alert in September via Starlink satellites. Photo: T-Mobile

T-Mobile reported Wednesday that it successfully sent a wireless emergency alert via Starlink satellites, testing a capability that will provide emergency warnings to the public outside of cell service. 

T-Mobile performed the test on Sept. 5, sending an emergency alert message, which was received by a Starink satellite and broadcast out to an unspecified geographic area. Emergency operators were able to queue and deploy the message in “just seconds.” 

“This is one of those days, as the CEO of a wireless company, that makes me pause for a moment and reflect on how technology advancements and the work we’re doing is truly impacting life and death situations,” T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert commented in a news release. 

T-Mobile said this type of emergency alert is critical for people who are off the cellular network grid, which is common in lightly populated areas with significant elevation changes, and for people in disaster areas when cell towers are down. These emergency alerts will work for everyone – even Verizon, AT&T and other wireless provider customers will receive critical emergency alerts.

Ben Longmier, SpaceX senior director of satellite engineering, clarified on X that these alerts will be available for all LTE-capable phones. 

This is part of T- Mobile and SpaceX’s work together to offer a roaming service via Starlink satellites to provide coverage in cellular dead zones. Elon Musk announced the deal with T-Mobile in 2022, and SpaceX launched the first Starlink satellites with direct to cell capabilities at the beginning of this year.

Now, there are more than 175 direct-to-smartphone satellites in orbit and T-Mobile and Starlink are testing the service. T-Mobile said that beta testing will begin in the coming months as more satellites are launched, followed by commercial service.