KDDI is expanding its au Starlink Direct roaming plans beyond the United States, with Canada, the Philippines, and New Zealand set to join.
The April 23 announcement lists different schedules for each country. Canada is expected in June through Rogers, the Philippines by September through Globe, and New Zealand later in 2026 through Spark.
Those dates are plans, rather than three services going live at once. The U.S. connection through T-Mobile is already available.
We covered that initial American roaming launch in March, when KDDI began with compatible Google Pixel phones.
For the expanded program, customers will need supported devices with current software and data roaming enabled. KDDI says no separate application procedure will be needed for eligible au Starlink Direct subscribers.
The phone connects through the local partner's satellite service when terrestrial cellular coverage is unavailable. Supported applications remain part of the arrangement, so this shouldn't be confused with unrestricted broadband for every app.
Our Direct to Cell guide explains the carrier partnerships behind these connections. Having Starlink satellites overhead doesn't remove the need for an agreement and permission in the country below.
The practical appeal is easy to see. Someone visiting a remote part of Canada could keep using a familiar phone instead of arranging a separate satellite terminal just for basic communication.
On the other hand, travelers still have to check the launch date and compatibility for their destination. A country appearing in an April announcement doesn't establish that the service is ready for an April trip.
For now, Canada's planned June introduction is the nearest expansion milestone, with the other two markets following on their own schedules.
