Apple is extending free satellite connectivity for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 owners a little bit longer, allowing users access to off-grid features such as Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, and Messages over satellite. The move has the effect of pushing any potential fees farther into the future and highlights how core satellite technology has grown to the iPhone experience.
Built on Apple’s collaboration with Globalstar, the InReach service has already beneffited users who are outside of cell coverage. This latest extension furthers Apple’s strategy of taking the most cautious approach possible and comes as the broader “direct-to-phone” market continues to heat up.
What the free extension includes
The bonus year maintains at no cost access to Apple’s satellite features, which route messages over Globalstar’s low‑Earth orbit network and Apple‑funded ground infrastructure. SOS added via satellite can also text emergency dispatchers and share your location and Medical ID, while helping you lock onto a passing satellite using an on‑screen compass.
Off the gridCommongradientnote 1ACCShow You can also use Messages via satellite to text with one another when you’re off the grid, where there’s no cellular or Wi‑Fi coverage. Apple bakes message compression and end‑to‑end encryption in to ensure that texts remain small and secure. Roadside Assistance provided by satellite is also available in areas of the United States through affiliates ofAAA. Apple says some non-emergency features may require a compatible carrier plan.
Who is eligible and how to find out
The extra year would apply to current iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 owners who activated their devices in countries where Apple’s satellite features are available before Apple’s publicly announced eligibility cutoff date. Promotional periods may vary by carrier, but they are usually days from the day of device activation.
You can see availability and the remaining free period in Settings. Check the feature status, finally all the eligibility and carrier wise instruction, check the satellite_related menus menu, see your carrier and region.
Why Apple is making it longer
There’s a strategic backdrop. Several competitive direct-to-cell efforts are ramping setting-up and pricing models are beginning to form. Keeping satellite free of charge on older iPhones drives uptake and gives Apple real‑world usage data to optimise capacity, and establishes habits around features the company might later charge for or bundle with carrier deals.
It also buys a bit of time as the ecosystem matures. Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) are firming up as an item in 3GPP release plans, and carriers are planning how satellite will dovetail in their 5G ground nets, and Apple’s continued fluffer work ensures that its user base won’t encounter resistance in the market’s sediment.
The Network Behind the Feature
Apple’s Globalstar LEO constellation-based satellite services and an upgraded network of ground stations — which are partly funded via an investment from Apple’s Advanced Manufacturing Fund — support iPhone users when cellular doesn’t reach and in areas with ultra-low connectivity around the world. Globalstar has announced plans for a new-generation constellation, the focus of which will be on better signal quality, better performance in vehicles or light foliage, and more overall capacity — improvements that will, the company says, shorten connection times and reduce failed attempts to connect.
Rivals raising the stakes
SpaceX, the rocket company founded by Elon Musk, and T‑Mobile are making direct‑to‑cell texting on most phones a reality and are working toward data services, with fees that can get you — unless you’re on upper-tier plans — if you don’t watch disputed videos that use the least data. The main difference today: Starlink seats its device on top of a house and receives guidance to point it at the sky, while Apple still makes you use an on‑screen aiming UI to orient the narrow satellite link.
AST SpaceMobile along with AT&T, Vodafone and others, has also achieved voice and data from space to unmodified smartphones. Both of these networks will only get faster and have richer app support as they scale. Apple’s edge is still close hardware‑software integration and a safety-first playbook that puts reliability over raw throughput.
Real-world impact and tips
Emergency coordinators in the U.S. and overseas have hailed iPhone satellite alerts with spurring rescues for stranded hikers, drivers and other backcountry travelers. Its feature set includes a guided call flow that facilitates the triage of incidents so that dispatchers receive essential location, condition, and hazards information, without any back‑and‑forth delays.
For optimal performance, take your phone outside with a clear view of the sky and follow your on‑screen aiming assistant to view the hidden satellites.
Reduce installations that block antenna or you can take the case off.
Keep your Medical ID up to date, turn on location sharing in Find My if you want loved ones to be able to see where you were last, save battery by turning off power‑hungry radios when you’re off‑grid.
What’s next for satellite on Apple devices
Apple is adding satellite capabilities to its entire lineup. The new Apple Watch Ultra has satellite support for calling emergency services, with an initiation free period, following the iPhone playbook. Carrier participation matters, Apple says: Find My and Messages over satellite may require an eligible plan when used outside of emergency situations.
Bottom line: an additional no‑cost year keeps iPhone 14 and 15 owners connected where it matters, while Apple and its partners scale up the network. With the battle between satellite and phone heating up, users will enjoy wider coverage, clearer pricing, and faster, more capable links—without surrendering the safety net they already tuck in their pocket.