Five Bars guide
Can your phone text by satellite?
More phones can now send a text where there’s no cell tower at all, but what you get depends on your phone, your carrier and sometimes an add-on. Pick yours below to see what works today, what it costs and what’s still coming.
Check your phone
Pick a phone and a carrier to see your options.
What each carrier offers today
| Carrier | Free satellite texting | Paid option | Coming |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | T-Satellite is included with Experience Beyond, Better Value and Go5G Next. Texts with photos, location sharing, select apps and WhatsApp voice chat. | T-Satellite add-on, $10 a month per line on other plans. T-Mobile calls $10 a limited-time price, $5 off. | More apps and countries. |
| Verizon | Two-way text messages on Galaxy S25, S26, Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, and Pixel 9 and 10 (not 9a). Text only, no photos. | T-Satellite from T-Mobile, $10 a month, on a compatible phone. | AST SpaceMobile service, announced for 2026. No public launch confirmed as of November 3, 2026. |
| AT&T | No carrier satellite texting yet. Built-in iPhone and Pixel features still work. | T-Satellite from T-Mobile, $10 a month, on a compatible phone. | AST SpaceMobile service. AT&T says it’s working toward a beta, then commercial service. |
| Other carriers | Built-in iPhone and Pixel features. | T-Satellite from T-Mobile, $10 a month, on a compatible phone. | Depends on the network your carrier uses. |
Built into the phone, on any carrier
| Phone | What it can do | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 14 or newer | Emergency SOS, Messages via satellite (iMessage and SMS), Find My and Roadside Assistance. SMS by satellite needs your carrier’s support. | Free right now. Apple extended free access again in September 2026 and hasn’t announced a price. |
| Pixel 9 and 10 (not 9a) | Satellite SOS: text emergency services and share your location. | Free. |
What’s still coming
AT&T: AT&T and AST SpaceMobile completed a handoff between AT&T’s towers and AST’s satellites on October 21, 2026. AT&T says it’s working toward a beta and then commercial service. There’s no public sign-up yet.
Verizon: Verizon signed a commercial agreement with AST SpaceMobile to offer satellite service “when needed” in the continental U.S., announced for 2026. We couldn’t confirm a public launch as of November 3, 2026.
AST’s service is designed for calls, texts and data on regular phones. Until it launches, regular phone calls by satellite aren’t available to U.S. consumers; T-Satellite supports voice chat only through WhatsApp.
Common questions
- Do I need a special phone or antenna?
- No antenna. You need a phone that supports it: iPhone 14 or newer and Pixel 9 or 10 have satellite features built in, and T-Mobile says T-Satellite works on most phones from the last four years. T-Mobile publishes a list of supported phones.
- Can I make a normal phone call by satellite?
- Not yet. T-Satellite supports voice chat through WhatsApp, and 911 by satellite is text only. AT&T and Verizon’s satellite partner has tested calls, but that service isn’t open to the public.
- Does it work indoors or in a car?
- It’s built for outdoors with a clear view of the sky. Trees, buildings and car roofs can block it, and messages can take a minute or more to go through.
- Should I rely on it in an emergency?
- It can help, but it isn’t guaranteed. T-Mobile notes that satellite 911 texts can be delayed and may go to a national response center instead of local 911. If you go deep into the backcountry, a dedicated satellite messenger is still the safer plan.
- Will Apple start charging?
- Apple hasn’t said. It has extended free access every year so far, most recently in September 2026 for iPhone 14, 15 and 16 owners.
Sources
Checked November 3, 2026. “Official” means the carrier, Apple, or a company filing. “Reported” means a news or review site, used where we couldn’t reach an official page.