Apple’s New iPhone Satellite Connection Doesn’t Install Starlink On Your Phone – Forbes
When Apple released the latest iPhone update, iOS 18.3 (full details here), was released, rumors began to spread that Starlink had been downloaded on to the iPhone. As if. Still, for some iPhone owners, satellite connectivity has just changed. Here’s what happened.Apple iPhone 16 Pro.Despite rumors that Apple had been working in secret with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, and later claims that Starlink was installed with iOS 18.3, the truth was rather different—though it could still result in something game-changing.T-Mobile and SpaceX have formed a partnership, something that was done in secret, to provide access to the Starlink satellites when T-Mobile subscribers ere outside regular cellular or wi-fi coverage. The partnership was not between Apple and Starlink as some had reported (not least on TikTok).The reference to something being a striking update came from a post on X from Mario Nawfal, founder of IBC Group, who described the update as a “game changer” because, as they pointed out, it meant, “No more pointing your phone at the sky—Starlink works right from your pocket.”So, like other compatible smartphones, the iPhone can connect to Starlink satellites through T-Mobile’s 1900 MHz (band 25) spectrum, which the device sees as yet another terrestrial LTE roaming network. As far as the iPhone’s concerned, it’s business as usual.To make this connection, iPhone users still need to sign up for T-Mobile’s beta to have any of this access, which is currently limited to a small but growing number of handsets. If users want to avoid this entirely, they can do that too, by turning off carrier-provided satellite features. This is simple to achieve, by opening the Settings app and choosing Cellular and then their carrier, and turning off Satellite.All iOS 18.3 has done is support the latest version of the T-Mobile network and there’s no direct connection between Apple and Starlink.For those who do want this service, though, it’s neat enough, once you’ve signed up for T-Mobile’s beta. It means that when you’re out of regular connectivity, you’re still able to send text messages. T-Mobile is aiming to provide more services in due course.
