T-Mobile announced its Direct-to-Cell Satellite Service beta program with Starlink is open for registration, providing coverage in dead zones within the US.

T-Mobile and Starlink have partnered to provide users with satellite-based wireless service in areas where this is no signal from traditional cell towers. The Federal Communications Commission signed off on the service in late November, paving the way for the two companies to begin rolling it out.

According to the magenta carrier, registration for the beta program is now open. The company says registration is open to all post-paid T-Mobile customers, including first responders and businesses.

Eliminating dead zones with cell towers in space – aka direct-to-cell satellites – is becoming a reality and hit a new milestone today. T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) opened registration for a beta program coming early next year as Un-carrier partner and satellite technology trailblazer, Starlink, continues to launch direct-to-cell satellites into orbit at a rapid pace.

“T-Mobile Starlink is the first major low-earth orbit constellation in the world paired with terrestrial cellular spectrum, making the phone in your pocket work in areas of the U.S. that have never, and probably never will, have ground based coverage,” said Mike Katz, President of Marketing, Strategy and Products, T-Mobile. “It’s a truly groundbreaking engineering breakthrough and means that we are one step closer to helping T-Mobile customers have confidence that, no matter where they are, if they can see the sky, they will be covered by T-Mobile.”

The initial support will focus on texting, but T-Mobile says voice and data is planned for the future. The company is also prioritizing first responders, given the importance of those agencies and individuals always having coverage.

With Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite constellation specifically designed for integration with the T-Mobile terrestrial network, the experience is expected to be much more user friendly than other satellite messaging services currently in market. For example, users will not need to hold their phone up to search for a signal. Both inbound and outbound messages are sent and received just like any other message.

The coming beta test marks the next big step for T-Mobile Experience Coverage Beyond, the Un-carrier’s vision to deliver the best service practically everywhere in the continental US, Hawaii, parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico and territorial waters, even outside the signal of T-Mobile’s terrestrial cellular network. Off the grid? No problem. On an airplane, overseas or at the latest baseball game? T-Mobile has you covered.

The announcement is good news for T-Mobile customers. Hopefully other carriers will follow suit, especially since Starlink has signaled a willingness to work with any carrier interested in partnering with it.