Starlink Direct-to-Cell Reaches ~10 Million Monthly Mobile Users Through Carrier Partners

SpaceX's Starlink Direct-to-Cell service was reaching approximately 10 million active users per month through partner mobile carriers as of April 2026, with the company targeting 25+ million by end of year. Carrier partnerships include Deutsche Telekom (Europe, with 10-country rollout expected by 2028), T-Mobile (United States), and operators in Japan, Australia, and Canada. The Direct-to-Cell technology — enabling standard unmodified smartphones to connect via satellite in areas with no cell tower coverage — represents a transformative potential for developing-market connectivity, eliminating the need for specialized hardware that has limited Starlink's direct subscriber reach among lower-income populations.