Some IPhone Users Will Get Another Year of Free Satellite Features
You may have missed it during the big iPhone 17 launch , but Apple has extended the free trial of its satellite services for the iPhone 14 and 15. Among the satellite features is the Emergency SOS feature via satellite, which lets you contact emergency services when you don’t have cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. The feature can also automatically contact emergency services if your Apple Watch detects a hard fall or crash.
The feature, originally introduced on the iPhone 14, is offered free for two years with the new iPhone. In September 2025, at the iPhone launch event, Apple announced that it would extend satellite support for another year for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 owners. The only thing missing from the announcement was the iPhone 16, as it was only a year since its launch, and the service has been available for free for at least two years.
If you activate your iPhone 14 or 15 in a country that supports Apple satellite features before 12 a.m. PT on September 9, 2025, you can enjoy these features for free for another year. Satellite features for iPhone are currently available in the following regions:
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United States
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Canada
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France
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Germany
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Ireland
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United Kingdom
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Australia
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Austria
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Belgium
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Italy
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Luxembourg
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Netherlands
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New Zealand
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Portugal
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Spain
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Switzerland
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Japan
At the time of writing, Apple has not disclosed the cost of satellite features after the free trial ends. If your iPhone was purchased outside of the regions mentioned above, you will still be able to use satellite features when you visit any of the countries where they are available. However, iPhones purchased in Armenia, Belarus, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia do not support satellite connectivity at all.
While satellite messaging is primarily intended for contacting emergency services, you can also use these features to send text messages when you don’t have cellular service . If you’re wondering how to use your iPhone’s satellite features, check out Lifehacker’s guide to using Emergency SOS via Satellite .