Musk's SpaceX and T-Mobile plan to connect mobile phones to satellites, boost cell coverage

Aerial view of the SpaceX Starbase ahead of a news conference with SpaceX Chief Engineer Elon Musk and T Mobile CEO Mike Sievert, in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., August 25, 2022. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

(Reuters) -U.S wireless carrier T-Mobile US Inc will use Elon Musk-owned SpaceX's Starlink satellites to provide mobile users with network access in parts of the United States, the companies announced on Thursday, outlining plans to connect users' mobile phones directly to satellites in orbit.

The new plans, which would exist alongside T-mobile's existing cellular services, would cut out the need for cell towers and offer service for sending texts and images where cell coverage does not currently exist, key for emergency situations in remote areas, Musk said at a flashy event on Thursday at his company's south Texas rocket facility.