NTT Docomo expands Starlink direct-to-cell service to five countries

NTT Docomo has expanded its ‘docomo Starlink Direct’ service, which enables direct communication between satellites and smartphones, to include New Zealand and Australia. This expansion brings the total number of supported international roaming countries to five, joining the United States, Canada, and the Philippines.

The service allows compatible devices to access weather, maps, and location information in outdoor areas where terrestrial networks and Wi-Fi are unavailable. While it provides a vital communication method for remote areas and emergencies, it does not currently support voice calls.

Currently, 48 models are supported, including the Samsung Galaxy series, iPhone 13 series and later, and Google Pixel 9 through 11 series. Docomo plans to expand the list of compatible devices starting in November. The service is available at no additional cost for users on eligible Docomo plans, including ahamo, and does not consume standard data allowances for SMS or data usage.