Apple’s iPhone Update Unlocks New Starlink Satellite Access: The Race Toward Satellite Connectivity

In February 2025, it was reported that Apple’s latest iPhone update, iOS 18.3, contained an unexpected new feature: satellite messaging with SpaceX. Currently, Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite service utilizes the Globalstar network. With the new update, users are now able to connect to Starlink’s satellite network as an alternative. This feature enables satellite-based texting from virtually anywhere, with plans by SpaceX and T-Mobile to expand the service to include voice calls and data in the future. The satellite service on an iPhone will automatically connect to SpaceX satellites when there is no cellular connectivity within T-Mobile’s coverage area. This satellite communication feature was secretly integrated into the software update, allowing Apple users with the specific version to access the service, in addition to existing T-Mobile Android users.

In recent years, there has been growing demand for Direct-to-Cellular (D2C) communication in the satellite market as companies seek to differentiate themselves and expand their coverage areas beyond terrestrial networks. D2C applications are expected to continue growing, with traffic increasing substantially as services expand from basic texting and calling to more data-intensive activities like video streaming and gaming. This shift will lead to a significant increase in data usage across all networks, driven by evolving user habits that demand more data. With SpaceX and T-Mobile planning to expand their services to include voice calls and data in the future, Satellite Network Operators (SNOs) will need to rapidly scale and upgrade their constellations and ground stations to accommodate the increased capacity and traffic.

Similarly, other network equipment providers and competitors also provide satellite communication as part of their services. In August 2024, Verizon partnered with satellite service provider Skylo to launch a Direct-to-Device (D2D) messaging service. Samsung Galaxy S25 users can access emergency satellite connectivity when using Verizon as their Communication Service Provider (CSP). In addition, the Google Pixel 9 smartphone series is connected to Skylo’s Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) for emergency communications.

In 2023, Huawei launched the Mate 60 Pro with native satellite connectivity features designed for emergencies and remote areas, allowing users to make and receive calls via satellite in locations without cellular network coverage. Moreover, CSP China Telecom has been offering mobile customers satellite connectivity options through the Tiantong-1 Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite constellation. The satellite constellation offers coverage across mainland China, neighboring Asian countries, the Asia-Pacific region and the east coast of Africa. According to Space China, the number of D2D users in China is projected to reach 3 million by 2025.

As D2C demand and services grow, competition for spectrum bands will intensify, making it more challenging for companies to secure the bandwidth necessary to expand their services. If not properly managed, this could lead to network interference, which diminishes the Quality of Service (QoS). Furthermore, with more users accessing satellite communication services, the increased demand for higher throughput and lower latency will place additional pressure on satellite constellations and ground stations. SNOs can address this challenge from multiple perspectives:

• Invest in Advanced Ground Infrastructure: By upgrading ground stations with more powerful processing and communication capabilities, it helps to ensure that data are transmitted quickly and accurately. Moreover, increasing the number of ground stations in strategic locations can reduce latency and improve overall service quality.
• Network and Traffic Management: Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a network management system that enables grouping and segmentation to enhance network performance. For example, SNOs can create network slices for different applications such as emergency services, enterprise customers, or Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It allows SNOs to prioritize traffic, scale up capacity in specific regions, and manage bandwidth usage without physical infrastructure changes. In addition, SNOs can use software-defined satellites to optimize operational efficiency, and leverage ground station virtualization technology for more flexible and scalable service management and deployment.
• Leverage Hybrid Solutions Through Partnerships: Hybrid network solutions combine both terrestrial and satellite networks, with satellite services acting as a complementary technology to enhance terrestrial communication and connectivity. By integrating satellites into a multi-layer mesh network with other NTNs, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), SNOs can reach rural areas, while allowing terrestrial networks to handle higher capacity regions, balancing the load between both types of networks. Collaborating with CSPs, Network Equipment Vendors (NEVs), and cloud providers allow SNOs to expand coverage and scalability, effectively reaching a broader customer base.
• Utilize AI and ML for Efficiency: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) can be leveraged for predictive maintenance and network optimization to prevent service interruptions and improve uptime. AI can also enable dynamic bandwidth allocation and adjust power levels depending on traffic demand, ensuring efficient use of resources without overloading the system.
• Improve Spectrum Management: As the demand for satellite bandwidth grows, effective spectrum management becomes essential. SNOs can implement advanced frequency techniques, such as beamforming (a Radio Frequency (RF) management method that directs a wireless signal toward a specific receiving device), to optimize the available spectrum and avoid interference. Additionally, SNOs should work closely with regulatory bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to secure additional spectrum bands to meet growing demand in areas like 5G, NTN, D2C, and IoT.