T-Mobile and SpaceX include satellite text messages about the Los Angeles fires
like fires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area, T-Mobile and SpaceX announced Thursday night that they will be turning on Starlink coverage for those who need it.
“Today, T-Mobile and Starlink launched T-Mobile Starlink Direct-to-Cellular service in affected areas of Southern California to deliver wireless emergency alerts and SMS and enable 911 text messaging,” the wireless carrier said. “While SpaceX’s direct-to-cell constellation is not fully deployed, we are once again temporarily making this early test available to those who need it most.”
The carrier says its network has “held up strong” and has also “restored approximately half of the sites that were affected by the loss of commercial power.”
“As conditions safely permit, our crews are assessing affected sites in Altadena, Duarte, Calabasas, Malibu, Fillmore and Agoura Hills and continue to deploy and fuel portable generators at sites until commercial power is restored.”
The Los Angeles fires are the latest deployment of the new satellite feature that keeps users connected during a natural disaster. Previously activated the service in response to Hurricanes Milton and Helen last year.
As was the case with the hurricanes, satellite texting will be limited to T-Mobile users with “supported phones.” However, wireless emergency alerts and evacuation notices can be sent via satellites to anyone in the affected areas, regardless of their wireless carrier.
Once again, it’s worth noting that this is an SMS, or traditional text message, and is done through your phone’s regular messaging app. It won’t work with Internet-based messaging services or apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger. T-Mobile tells CNET that supported devices include “most” Android phones and iPhones older than the iPhone 14 series.
Apple users with an iPhone 14 (or later) running iOS 18 it can also send carrier-independent iMessages via satellite in areas thanks to which they have no coverage Apple’s partnership with satellite company Globalstar. T-Mobile says users with those iPhones will use Apple’s satellite services, not SpaceX’s Starlink.
Although it uses the service in emergency situations, the Los Angeles rollout comes shortly after T-Mobile and SpaceX announced that they will begin beta testing the service this year and open the registration.
Watch this: Apple vs. Google: A comparison of emergency satellite features
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