iOS 18.5 Brings Support for Carrier Satellite Connectivity to iPhone 13

The iOS 18.5 update that Apple plans to release next week will enable carrier-provided satellite features on iPhone 13 models, adding satellite connectivity to iPhones that do not support Apple's built-in satellite functionality through Globalstar.

iPhone 13 Pro Blue
Apple says that satellite connectivity provided by carriers will be enabled on all ‌iPhone‌ 13 models, including the ‌iPhone‌ 13, ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini, ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max. To use the feature, ‌iPhone‌ 13 users will need cellular service that offers a satellite connectivity option, and there are several carriers that have been rolling out the functionality.

In the United States, T-Mobile has partnered with SpaceX to provide customers with Starlink Direct service for connecting to Starlink satellites when Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity are unavailable. au and One NZ have also introduced satellite connectivity, as has Verizon, though Verizon's satellite option does not currently work with ‌iPhone‌.

Apple has included built-in satellite connectivity in all iPhones dating back to the ‌iPhone‌ 14 lineup, with connectivity provided through a partnership with Globalstar. Satellite connectivity is useful in rural and remote areas where cellular towers are not available.

Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

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Top Rated Comments

azentropy Avatar
20 weeks ago
Neat, my 13 mini lives on!
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ignatius345 Avatar
20 weeks ago
Countdown to someone being angry about this somehow in 3...2...
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MRSugarD Avatar
20 weeks ago
No doubt, the 13 lineup was peak iPhone?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
seanmcbay Avatar
20 weeks ago
Great news for me being a Mini holdout on T-Mobile. Sat functionality was one of the few things I really wanted that newer models had.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CharlesShaw Avatar
20 weeks ago

Still have my mini and quite a few people ask me which iPhone it is ?
Perhaps they haven't seen a mini because many mini owners tend to keep our iPhones in our pockets instead of constantly holding them or setting them on the restaurant table.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reeneman Avatar
20 weeks ago

No doubt, the 13 lineup was peak iPhone?
The Blue Color on the pro ❤️
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)