Space to Gympie and beyond: satellite texts go live
A farmer stuck in the back paddock without mobile reception can now send a text message, a GPS location and even the ubiquitous cowboy emoji via satellite technology.
Farmers will be among Telstra customers able to use Australia's first satellite-to-mobile text messaging service from Tuesday morning as the telco begins rolling out its collaboration with SpaceX.
Samsung Galaxy S25 series users will be able to connect to Starlink direct-to-cell satellites, allowing them to send texts from outdoor locations beyond the Telstra mobile network.
Other devices, including Apple iPhones, will be enabled in coming weeks or months, while satellite voice and low-speed data may come online sometime after 2027.
The technology will particularly benefit regional Australians, Telstra executive Channa Seneviratne said.
"I was up in the Gympie shire (in Queensland) talking to a farmer who said he had some really remote paddocks and didn't have mobile coverage there," Mr Seneviratne told AAP.
"He said he works late and he'd like to let the family know that he's OK ... so this product is perfect for those sorts of uses.
"It's a really exciting advancement in our technology for this massive land area that we call home."
Engineers have been testing the technology for much of 2025, going to far-flung places across Australia to check whether they can send texts, GPS coordinates and emojis via satellite.
Telstra has faced backlash from regional Australians in recent months after the closure of the 3G network in October left some in rural areas with patchy coverage.
The Regional Telecommunications Review also heard of unreliable mobile coverage in country areas, including in emergencies and after natural disasters.
Major telcos have long maintained improved satellite technology could bridge some of those gaps, with Starlink broadband connecting rural Australians for years.
Satellites are among several advances, along with repurposing the 3G spectrum for the 5G network, Mr Seneviratne said.
"Of course, we accept Aussies want more and we want to do more," he said.
The new service would not connect users directly to triple zero, but may help people get in touch with family or friends during an emergency.
"It's a move towards providing an additional safety net for all of those customers who live, work and play outside of terrestrial coverage."
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