“T-Mobile SAT” and “Satellite” network name?

Hey all —

While visiting the island of Kauai in Hawaii last week, particularly around the town of Waimea, I noticed my phone was bouncing back and fourth between LTE and 5G a *lot* — so I popped into engineering mode to see what was going on. It was sitting on a 312-250 mnc which I know that means it is Sprint Keep site on Band 2 with LTE — but I also could select the other T-Mobile network which was 310-260 with standalone 5G on Band 71… it certainly seemed to prefer 312-250 though.

The interesting thing was I also saw “T-Mobile SAT” as a network option along with the two T-Mobile networks for 250 and 260… I have an IPhone 15 Pro — my husband also has the same phone, but his showed two T-Mobile networks and one straight up called “Satellite” (we have the same plans, same phones, same carrier bundles but his said Satellite, mine said T-Mobile SAT). I tried to connect to this network and it would not connect — but watching the engineering screen it bounced to 310-120 and 311-480, back and fourth, trying to connect to a EARFCN in Band 2…

So my question is… is this the Starlink satellite service using PCS that is rumored to be on the way? Once I got back to Oahu and back to the mainland I couldn’t see that network any more. I know 310-120 is an old Sprint MNC and 311-480 is old Clearwire — I thought they had retired these…

Anyone have any ideas?