Apple has now extended its iPhone 14 satellite-enabled emergency SOS service to the UK, France, Germany and Ireland.
With iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models, Emergency SOS text messages can be sent to emergency services when outside mobile and Wi-Fi coverage. The Find My app can share location data.
The Emergency SOS via satellite is free for two years after the activation of iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro.
When connected to a satellite the iPhone starts a text conversation with questions from the Emergency Services who are sent location and iPhone’s battery level.
Peter Kibutu of 5G satellite consultancy TTP, which advises on 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) ,welcomed the expansion of the service to Europe
“Apple’s launch will still provide valuable insights, on how to to map suitable network configurations, manage handset design constraints and understand baseband and antenna performance requirements, as well as what future differentiation including higher data rates and lower power consumption might look like.
“Apple’s continued rollout of satellite-enabled emergency communications, will help accelerate global uptake of the capabilities enabled by 5G. However, getting the early technologies and ecosystem players to converge will require a detailed understanding of the opportunities and complexities of 5G satellite communications. It will be vital to observe handset and chipset vendors defining this space”.