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Katy OKs 24‑Month T‑Mobile Contract; Staff Says Starlink Satellite Messaging Will Augment Coverage
Summary
Council approved a 24‑month Sourcewell contract (No. 0031924‑SPT) with T‑Mobile USA Inc., beginning Oct. 1, 2025, to update city mobile communications. T‑Mobile's engineer said Starlink integration will allow texting and light data where terrestrial coverage is absent; voice capability is planned later.
KATY, Texas — The Katy City Council approved a 24‑month cooperative‑purchasing contract with T‑Mobile USA Inc. to modernize the city’s mobile communications infrastructure, with the contract set to begin Oct. 1, 2025.
The contract (Sourcewell contract number 0031924‑SPT) was presented as a cooperative procurement and voted on by council; the motion to approve was made by Councilmember Gina Hicks and seconded by Councilmember Janet Court and carried by the members present.
Council members asked whether the plan includes Starlink satellite capability. Danny Runnels, identified in the meeting as a solution engineer for T‑Mobile government, explained that T‑Mobile functions with low‑Earth‑orbit Starlink satellites as part of T‑Mobile’s network. He said the current capability will allow automatic outgoing text messaging and light data (examples: maps, messaging apps) in areas without terrestrial cellular coverage and that T‑Mobile expects to expand to voice capabilities at a later date.
Councilmembers and at least one local business representative reported positive experience with the carrier transition and praised staff work on the procurement. The council approved the contract by voice vote.
What happens next: The contract begins Oct. 1, 2025; staff will implement the phased migration of city devices onto the T‑Mobile plan and monitor coverage and emergency communications functionality as the Starlink features roll out.
