Tucked away in Apple’s iPhone 17 press releases was a bonus for off-grid homeowners of older fashions. The corporate gave iPhone 14 and 15 homeowners free entry to satellite tv for pc options for one more 12 months. That is Apple’s third extension since Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc launched with the iPhone 14.
“The free trial might be prolonged for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 customers who’ve activated their system in a rustic that helps Apple’s satellite tv for pc options previous to 12AM PT on September 9, 2025,” the corporate’s copy reads. An Apple help web page lists Armenia, Belarus, China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia as unsupported international locations.
Apple’s off-grid characteristic set started in 2022 with Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc. In iOS 18, it expanded to incorporate Messages by way of satellite tv for pc, Discover My entry and roadside help. The options work by means of a partnership with Globalstar.
As for why Apple retains extending the free entry, a Redditor floated a logical-sounding concept after final 12 months’s announcement. “I can not see Apple ever charging for [Emergency SOS via satellite],” u/rotates-potatoes posted. “The optimistic PR of ‘saved by Apple’ is just too good, and the destructive PR of ‘died as a result of they did not pay $3’ is just too unhealthy.” (It is value noting that the pricing was speculative. Apple hasn’t stated how a lot it plans to cost.)
You possibly can demo the options in your iPhone proper now. To check Emergency SOS, head to Settings > Emergency SOS, and scroll all the way down to “Attempt Demo” (on the backside). For the texting characteristic, go to Settings > Apps > Messages, and scroll all the way down to “Satellite tv for pc Connection Demo.”