Yesterday, April 28th, Spain experienced an unprecedented telecommunications blackout that left millions of people without mobile coverage or internet access. For hours, the networks of the major operators collapsed, and users found their phones displaying the dreaded “No Service” message.
For these types of situations, Apple introduced a feature with the iPhone 14 that, theoretically, allows for satellite communication. The icon did appear, but the connection didn’t work properly. Why?
Many users, like my sister with her iPhone 14 Pro Max, and hundreds of other iPhone owners on social media, have complained that the feature didn’t work as they expected. In this article, we’ll explain its limitations.
How does satellite connectivity work on the iPhone?
Apple’s Satellite Emergency SOS feature is designed for situations where there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. It allows users to send text messages to emergency services by connecting directly to a satellite. For it to work properly, certain requirements must be met:
- Have an iPhone 14, 15, or 16 with iOS 16.4 or later.
- Be in a location with a clear view of the sky and horizon.
- Not having mobile coverage or Wi-Fi.
Once activated, the iPhone guides the user through connecting to the satellite and sending an emergency message. However, during the blackout in Spain, many users were unable to use this feature.
Possible reasons for failure
Location limitations
Satellite connectivity requires a clear view of the sky. Being indoors, near tall buildings, or in heavily built-up areas can impede connectivity. During the outage, many people were at home or in enclosed spaces like their workplaces, which could have made satellite connectivity difficult.
Do you know how it works?
The Satellite Emergency SOS feature doesn’t activate automatically. The user must attempt to make an emergency call. If this isn’t possible, the iPhone offers the option of sending a message via satellite. Many users may not have known how to properly activate this feature.
Satellite network saturated
Although satellites can handle multiple connections, a sudden increase in demand could have caused delays or connection failures. During the outage, many users likely attempted to use the feature simultaneously.
Technical or software problems
There’s always the possibility of bugs or technical glitches. Furthermore, if the device didn’t have the required iOS version or if the feature wasn’t configured correctly, it could have prevented its operation.
Despite the enormous potential of this feature, as we’ve seen, many factors influence the performance of the satellite connection, which raises the following question: Is it well implemented by Apple? It’s also important to keep in mind that the success of this technology may not depend on the Californian company.
In any case, yesterday’s Spanish blackout highlighted the importance of being familiar with these features and understanding their limitations. It’s crucial that users educate themselves and prepare adequately for emergency situations, ensuring their devices are up to date and knowing how to activate these vital features.
