The original two-year period for free Emergency SOS Satellite features on iPhone has expired – but Apple hasn’t started charging yet
- Satellite features were originally free for only two years
- Last November, another 12 free months were added
- Questions remain about long-term access to these features
We’ve just reached two years since the debut of Emergency SOS via Satellite on the iPhone 14 – and while Apple originally said the service would only be free for two years, it remains free to access, most recently with a one-year extension. November.
The milestone was noticed by MacRumors and others, and it’s worth highlighting because it begs the question of what Apple plans to do with this in the long run. The official support page for the feature still states that “Emergency SOS via Satellite is free for two years after activation of an iPhone 14 or later.”
While Apple has apparently always intended to let users cover the cost of satellite connectivity, the problem with charging money to access this connectivity is that it could literally save someone’s life – so it’s not quite the same as forgetting you Renew Netflix subscription or Spotify subscription.
With the Google Pixel 9 series now offering a similar feature and Samsung expected to follow suit next year, this is something all major phone makers will have to weigh up. Either they absorb the costs themselves, or they charge users for it.
Launched alongside the iPhone 14 in 2022, satellite connectivity has since been expanded. The feature has been rolled out in more countries and now includes the ability to get roadside assistance via satellite (in addition to contacting emergency services).
With the introduction of iOS 18, Apple added the ability to send messages to anyone you want via a satellite connection when you don’t have a cell or Wi-Fi signal. Once again, the feature was advertised as being free for two years, although Apple never gave any indication of the pricing structure that might eventually be introduced.
It’s possible that some of those extra features, like roadside assistance and satellite messaging, will eventually require a subscription, while the emergency SOS capabilities that could one day save your life will remain free. For now, however, Apple hasn’t revealed what might happen.
In November 2025, the free period will end for both iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 owners, so we’ll see what happens then – and whether or not satellite options will be bundled with an Apple One subscription.
