How to Connect Your iPhone to a Satellite
The iPhone 14 has the ability to connect to a satellite, but only in emergency situations. You can’t place normal phone calls via satellite, and the option only comes up when you try to contact emergency services in an area where you don’t have access to cellular service or Wi-Fi. Here’s how to connect your iPhone to a satellite in an emergency:
What Is Emergency SOS via Satellite?
Emergency SOS via Satellite is a safety feature that enables emergency satellite connectivity in the iPhone 14. This feature is enabled in iOS 16.1.1, but only for the iPhone 14. Older iPhones don’t have the necessary hardware, so they can’t establish emergency satellite connections. This feature facilitates a connection to emergency services when a connection isn’t possible through other means. It doesn’t let you place calls or turn your iPhone into a satellite phone, but it does allow you to communicate with emergency services via a satellite connection in situations where cell service and Wi-Fi are unavailable. Unlike other iPhone SOS features, you don’t need to set up SOS via Satellite or make any preparations ahead of time, other than to make sure your phone is updated. As long as your phone supports this feature, it will present you with the option to connect to emergency services via satellite whenever a traditional connection isn’t available.
Where Is Emergency SOS via Satellite Available?
This feature is only available in the United States and Canada. Some United States territories aren’t covered though, and Apple maintains a list of the specific areas where you can use SOS via Satellite. It isn’t guaranteed to work everywhere though, and Apple cautions specifically that it may not work in parts of Alaska and Canada located above 62 degrees latitude. Additionally, SOS via Satellite is only available in areas where there isn’t any cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. If your phone is able to connect to a cell tower or a Wi-Fi network, you can contact emergency services that way instead. While this feature is limited to the United States and Canada, that doesn’t mean it’s limited to residents of those countries. International travelers are able to use this feature when visiting the United States and Canada in most cases, although it isn’t available on iPhones purchased in China, including phones from both Hong Kong and Macao.
