(Credit: Wilson Connectivity)
SpaceX’s satellite-to-phone service, Starlink Mobile, is getting its own third-party accessory for use inside a car.
Currently, Starlink Mobile is exclusive to T-Mobile in the US as T-Satellite, providing phone access in cellular dead zones, such as remote or rural areas. But the service can struggle to send signals to phones sitting inside a vehicle, which is where Utah-based Wilson Connectivity's weBoost Sky signal booster comes in.
No modification or extra hardware is required for the weBoost Sky, described as "the world’s first vehicle signal booster engineered specifically to strengthen satellite direct-to-device connectivity." There's a roof-mounted antenna and a long cable that runs through the vehicle to connect to an “in-cabin antenna,” which relays the signal to a T-Satellite-enabled phone.
Wilson Connectivity promises "5x more uplink power than your phone alone." For power, the antenna system connects to a USB-C port; a cigarette lighter adapter is included.
The weBoost Sky is specifically designed for the radio bands used by T-Satellite. This week, the company began marketing the $149.99 product to customers who frequently drive in cellular dead zones. T-Satellite supports mobile data to both Apple and Google Maps, along with a select group of other apps, including WhatsApp, X, and Messenger.
Wilson Connectivity has published a 4-page report on its field tests showing that the antenna can improve signal quality, reducing delays in satellite text messages. In one anecdote, the company noted that the weBoost Sky produced four signal bars on the phone, which dropped to none when the antenna was turned off.
T-Satellite is free for customers on the carrier’s premium plans; otherwise, it's $10 per month. There are signs that T-Mobile is considering alternative satellite providers, as SpaceX has signaled it could use Starlink Mobile to compete with the big three carriers in the US. If or how this could impact weBoost Sky is unclear.
In the meantime, Wilson Connectivity sells other in-car signal boosters that work with traditional cell carriers. Many US consumers have also been fitting Starlink dishes on their vehicles as another way to receive more robust satellite-powered broadband on the road.
In contrast, the current version of T-Satellite offers estimated speeds of around 4Mbps. Still, SpaceX is working on a next-gen version using upgraded satellites and more radio spectrum, promising 5G-like service with speeds up to 150 Mbps.
About Our Expert
I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.
Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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