Apple Expands Emergency SOS via Satellite to UK, France, Germany, and Ireland

Apple today announced the expansion of Emergency SOS via Satellite and Find My via satellite functionality to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Ireland.

Emergency SOS via Satellite iPhone YT
iPhone 14 users can now connect with emergency services when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage are not available, and calls from the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature will be routed to local emergency services facilities.

Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite feature is available to all ‌iPhone‌ 14 users running iOS 16.1 in supported countries and it is free to use for two years. It is designed to allow ‌iPhone‌ users to make emergency calls using satellite connectivity outdoors when no cellular or WiFi connection is available.

Apple says that with the release of iOS 16.2, expected later today, users who dial a local emergency service number will automatically be routed to 112, the European emergency phone number, if the call does not go through due to a cellular or Wi-Fi connection not being available, enabling them to utilize Emergency SOS via satellite even if they don't dial 112.

"Emergency SOS via satellite makes emergency communications over satellite more accessible, which is very exciting,” said Gary Machado, the European Emergency Number Association's CEO. "In practice, it means that many more people will be able to contact 112 when they have no mobile coverage and need urgent assistance. We are confident that this will save many lives and offer significant help to emergency services dealing with these often very complicated rescues."

"Being able to use a satellite connection to contact 999 or 112 if there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage is a breakthrough that Apple has brought to the general public with iPhone 14," said John Anthony, the British Association of Public Safety Communications Officials' president. "The feature will mean that emergency services can be alerted when it was not previously possible and are then able to do their jobs to better effect, in part because of the initial information that can be shared with dispatchers, such as location and essential details about the emergency. Ultimately, this will help save lives."

Emergency SOS via Satellite launched in the United States and Canada last month, and at the time, Apple said that it would expand to France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK in December. Support for more countries will follow next year, according to Apple.

Satellite connectivity can also be used to update a ‌‌Find My‌‌ location without WiFi or cellular connectivity through the ‌‌Find My‌‌ app.

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Top Rated Comments

SoldOnApple Avatar
34 months ago
Hopefully Australia is soon, Australia is a massive landmass with lots of opportunity to get stranded between cities.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cyanite Avatar
34 months ago
Does it support 0118 999 88199 9119 725… 3?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
testcard Avatar
34 months ago
Standing outside in -5C and pointing my 14 Pro at the sky isn't a great look (said my neighbour), but the demo certainly works.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MaxSto Avatar
34 months ago

Not sure where here in Germany we do not have any mobile network. I just checked: Even Bielefeld has 100% coverage, although it does not even exist.

https://www.breitband-monitor.de/mobilfunkmonitoring/karte

So this feature is only interesting for Germans who travel abroad. And would they pay a monthly fee once the free trial is over?
Apparently you have never been to the alps, the eifel and other very rural and exposed locations here in germany.
I am very thankful for this feature and hope that it will come to austria, switzerland and italy in the near future, too.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
orbital~debris Avatar
34 months ago
Tried the demo a little while ago, it worked wonderfully in East Anglia – very fast to establish connection with the ?️ and the Apple instructions were excellent.

Love this feature, hopefully will never need to use it.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Will Co Avatar
34 months ago
Great news. Not yet seeing the facility to demo it in the UK, though.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)