The possibility of smartphones working with the Earth's network of geostationary satellites is nothing new. It appeared in Apple smartphones already in the iPhone 14 series, i.e…. four years ago. It was also received by models from the Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series from Google, which use the Samsung Exynos 5400 modem, i.e. without the cheapest Pixel 9a. Sending emergency satellite SMS messages has also appeared in many phones from Chinese manufacturers, but this feature is usually not available outside mainland China.
Theoretically, Samsung Galaxy S25 models can also send satellite SOS messages, but this is a feature available only within the US operator Verizon – an individual contract between the operator and the Garmin Response rescue center, whose services, by the way, also use on its compatible Google smartphones. In turn, Apple invested in Globalstar Inc. and currently it is the operator of satellite SOS services on iPhone smartphones.
iPhone 14 was the first Apple smartphone to support satellite emergency messaging
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press materials
However, the problem is the regional availability of satellite emergency SMS
I have already mentioned that Chinese smartphones with support for the satellite communication standard only work in their home territory. However, it turns out that the devices available from us compliant with the NR-TNT (Non-Terrestrial Network) standard also have this problem.
Currently, only Google smartphones allow you to use the satellite emergency SMS service in Poland. This service is free for the first two years after purchasing the smartphone.
Read also: Samsung Galaxy S26 will allow you to communicate without coverage. “Space technology”
Apple devices also come with a two-year subscription to emergency satellite messages (from the date you activate your smartphone), but… they only work in selected regions – the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, and in Europe in Austria, Belgium, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, the UK and Italy. Therefore, Poland is not on this list, just like Polish is not on the list of languages supported by Siri. However, it is worth remembering this possibility when, for example, you are on holiday abroad.
Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series smartphones support sending satellite emergency messages in Poland
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google.com
In the case of iPhones, smartphones purchased in Armenia, mainland China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Belarus are also unable to send emergency messages. For models purchased in Hong Kong or Macau, satellite connectivity will be available from the iPhone 16e model, i.e. it does not include the 14, 15 and 16 series.
When can you use satellite SMS?
The function will be available when we are in an area without access to a GSM or Wi-Fi network signal. It will not work when we do not have coverage of our operator's network, but networks of other operators are present. They will then be used for an emergency call. When staying in civilization areas, we will probably not have to use this facility. Importantly, to establish a connection with the network of geostationary satellites, it is necessary to be in an open space. Therefore, it may not be useful when we are stuck in a cave.
Read also: iPhones are breaking popularity records. Their sales surprised even Apple
However, if we are in a place without a cellular signal and we want to make an emergency call to an emergency number, then a compatible smartphone will suggest using a satellite connection. May we never have to use it in practice. However, for training purposes, it is worth running a demo of such a connection. If you have a Google smartphone, just search for the item in the phone settings section Satellite emergency connection.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL satellite emergency communication demo mode (click to enlarge)
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Piotr Kwiatkowski / Onet
In the case of an Apple smartphone, the demo will only run in a country where satellite connections are supported, so not here. However, Apple promises that if the smartphone detects an accident and we do not react, it will automatically use the satellite connection to send the notification if there is no GSM or Wi-Fi network coverage and we are in a place supported by the SOS system.
