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

SpaceX can now operate throughout New Zealand, . The New Zealand provider says it is the first time a nationwide satellite messaging service has been powered by Starlink. IT-Mobile is about to get this going, but it looks like One NZ is losing big.

What is the benefit here for New Zealand residents? It is a country with many rural areas, which leads to weak or non-existent demonstrations. This should be a level playing field for people who don’t live near big cities.

Now to the caveats, and there are a few 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 rollout, but admits the time can increase to “10 minutes or more.” It is for this reason that the company continues to urge people to carry a personal beacon when traveling to a remote location.

The service also includes 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 in the coming year. The company also intends to eventually expand the service to include voice and data calling.

The satellite service is free for existing One NZ customers on monthly plans, but we don’t know the pricing plan for new customers or those signed up to other types of contracts. Starlink has partnered with other telecommunications companies to bring full coverage to Japan, Peru, Switzerland and Chile. As mentioned earlier, the same thing should be done in the US.