Starlink’s first national satellite texting service goes live in New Zealand

SpaceX can now operate throughout New Zealand, . The New Zealand-based provider says this is the first time a nationwide satellite text messaging service has been powered by Starlink. T-Mobile about getting this, but it looks like One NZ beat him to the punch.

What is the benefit here for New Zealand residents? It is a country with many rural areas resulting in weak or no signals. This should also level the playing field for people who don’t live near big cities.

Now about the caveats, and there are a couple of big ones. Starlink texting is incredibly slow compared to traditional methods. One NZ says most messages should be sent and received within three minutes during the initial launch, but admits the time could increase to “10 minutes or more”. It is for this reason that the company continues to urge people to carry a personal locator beacon when traveling in a remote area.

The service is also which includes the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and OPPO Find X8 Pro. This list of eligible devices is expected to grow next year. The company also plans to eventually expand the service to include voice and data calls.

The satellite service is free for existing One NZ customers on paid monthly plans, but we don’t know the pricing scheme for new customers or those signed up to other types of contracts. Starlink has partnered with other telecommunications companies to bring comprehensive coverage to Japan, Peru, Switzerland and Chile. As mentioned before, it is also to do something similar in the United States.