Overview
- Apple disclosed Wednesday that it will extend one more year of free satellite access for existing iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 devices that were activated in countries that support the feature before midnight Pacific Time on September 9, 2026.
- The extension was revealed in a footnote to the iPhone 18 Pro press release rather than during the product event, and new iPhones continue to ship with one year of complimentary satellite coverage.
- Apple’s satellite tools cover Emergency SOS, Messages via satellite, Find My via satellite, and Roadside Assistance via satellite and run over Globalstar’s network, offering limited text and location functions rather than full internet or streaming.
- This is at least the third time Apple has postponed charging for the feature, and the company has not provided any pricing, subscription plan details, or a date when paid access might begin.
- Millions of current iPhone users keep a safety net for off-grid emergencies for another year, and the repeated extensions leave open the possibility of future charges that could force users to weigh replacement phones against added service costs.