Rogers offices in Montreal. The telecom's Rogers Satellite and U.S.-based T-Mobile's T-Satellite both rely on Elon Musk’s Starlink to connect cellphones in dead zones.Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press
Rogers Communications Inc. RCI-B-T is expanding its satellite-to-mobile coverage south of the border through a partnership with American provider T-Mobile TMUS-Q.
The move will allow customers to make app-based voice calls, send text messages or use certain applications while roaming in the United States out of range of a cellular network.
The company first launched its Rogers Satellite text service last July, which initially included text-to-911 capability. It temporarily made the service available to all Canadians regardless of their mobile carrier through a free trial that wrapped up December.
In addition to text messaging, Rogers Satellite now supports apps such as WhatsApp, Messenger, X, Google Maps, AllTrails and AccuWeather. Customers can also make voice and video calls using WhatsApp or Messenger both in Canada and the U.S., with Rogers planning to eventually enable traditional cellphone calls including 911 voice services.
Rogers has touted the technology as a solution for Canadians to stay connected in places where traditional cell coverage is not available, such as the most remote parts of Canada and along rural highways.
In September, the Toronto-based company expanded coverage across some bodies of water and along waterways off the Canadian coastline, meaning users could have service on a ferry ride or remote fishing trip.
Both Rogers Satellite and T-Satellite, the satellite-to-mobile offering also launched last July by T-Mobile, rely on the technology of Elon Musk’s Starlink, which uses low-earth orbit satellites to connect cellphones in dead zones.
Rogers said T-Satellite provides 1.3 million square kilometres of satellite-to-mobile coverage in the U.S.
“Canadians want to stay connected wherever they are, even when they’re travelling,” Rogers chief technology officer Mark Kennedy said in a news release.
“By expanding satellite-to-mobile technology, our customers can get more coverage and roam effortlessly throughout the U.S.”
For Rogers customers, satellite-to-mobile roaming in the U.S. is included with its Ultimate and Popular plans with U.S. coverage, Roam Like Home, and select travel passes at no extra cost.
Telus Corp. and Bell Canada have both said they plan to bring their own satellite-powered services to customers sometime this year through partnerships with U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile.
As part of the Telus deal, announced last month, the Vancouver-based firm will invest in ground-based satellite infrastructure and become a shareholder of AST.