Yesterday April 28, Spain lived a Telecommunications blackout Unprecedented that left millions of people without mobile coverage or Internet access. For hours, the networks of the main operators collapsed, and the users met their phones showing the dreaded message of “without service”.
For these types of situations, Apple introduced with the iPhone 14 a hidden function for many that, theoretically, allows communicate via satellite. In fact, the icon appeared, but this connection did not work well, why?
Many users, like my sister with their iPhone 14 pro Max or hundreds of iPhone owners on social networks have complained that the function did not develop as expected. In this article we tell you its limitations.
How does the satellite connection on the iPhone work?
Apple's emergency satellite function is designed for situations in which there is no mobile or Wi-Fi coverage. It allows users to send text messages to emergency services connecting directly to a satellite. To work properly, certain requirements must be met:
- Have a iPhone 14, 15 or 16 with iOS 16.4 or later.
- Be in a Clear view of the sky and the horizon.
- Not having mobile or Wi-Fi coverage.
Once activated, the iPhone guides the user to connect to the satellite and send an emergency message. However, during the blackout in Spain, many users could not use this function.
Possible reasons of the failure
Location limitations
The satellite connection requires a clear view of the sky. Be indoorsnear high buildings or in too built areas it can prevent connection. During the blackout, many people were in their homes or in closed places such as their work, which could have hindered connection with the satellite.
Do you know how it works?
The satellite emergency function is not automatically activated. The user must try to make an emergency call. If it is not possible to scratch it, the iPhone offers the option to send a satellite message. It is possible that many users did not know how to correctly activate this function.
Saturated satellite network
Although satellites can handle multiple connections, a sudden increase in demand could have caused delays or connection failures. During the blackout, many users are likely to try to use the function simultaneously.
Technical or software problems
There is always the possibility of technical errors or failures. In addition, if the device did not have the required iOS version or if the function was not correctly configured, it could have prevented its operation.
Despite the enormous potential of this function, as we have seen, many are the factors that influence the good performance of the satellite connection, which raises the following question: Is it well implemented by Apple? It must also be borne that the success of this technology may not depend on the Californian company.
In any case, the Spanish blackout yesterday has highlighted the importance of being familiar with these functions and understanding its limitations. It is crucial that users are informed and prepared properly for emergency situations, making sure that their devices are updated and know how to activate these vital functions.
