Australia’s Telstra brings home satellite tech with Musk’s SpaceX

(Reuters) – Telstra, a leading Australian telecom, said on Thursday that it is cooperating with billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX to offer satellite broadband technology to its remote clients.

Telstra has teamed with satellite-based internet provider Starlink to introduce the latter’s Starlink-to-Mobile technology to Australia, allowing the United States company to offer satellite broadband access straight to compatible mobile phones, particularly in rural locations.

“The collaboration would enable Telstra customers to send and receive SMSes on a compatible mobile phone in most parts of Australia where there is a direct line of sight to the sky,” Telstra Group Executive of Global Network and Technology Shailin Sehgal stated.

This is not the first time the two companies have collaborated; in 2023, Telstra and Starlink agreed to deliver voice-only and voice-plus-broadband services in Australia’s rural and remote locations.

Additionally, Robyn Denholm, a former Telstra finance and operations executive, chairs the US EV producer Tesla, where Musk serves as CEO.