SpaceX’s Starlink broadband by satellite system is offering free connections for emergency calls when smart–phone users are in rural or maritime regions anywhere in the world.

Elon Musk, in a post on his X platform, said: “After thinking it through, SpaceX Starlink will provideemergency services access for mobile phones for people in distress for free. This applies worldwide, subject to approval by country governments. Can’t have a situation where someone dies because they forgot or were unable to pay for it.”

Observers say this will be of value even in urban areas for when their local cellular service has gone down, or has been affected by a local disaster.

One comment suggested: “For instance, Starlink could re–connect every phone and device to satellite internet should there be a massive cyber attack.”

The service will be agnostic as to the user’s usual telco supplier. The calls will serve 4G/LTE smartphone versions. The service tops a similar offering from Apple but Apple’s emergency service is good only for high–end Apple phones and depends on Globalstar satellites.

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Categories: Articles, Broadband, Satellite

Tags: elon musk, starlink