Satellite SOS
Many new phones can call for help through a satellite when there is no mobile signal at all. Here is which ones, where, and how.
Before anythingFirst, try the normal way
Always try to call 112 first (911 in North America). In many places your phone can reach emergency services through any network, even one that is not yours. Satellite help is for when nothing else works: mountains, sea, wilderness, or after a disaster.
Satellite help needs you to be outdoors with a clear view of the sky. It does not work indoors or under thick trees. A message can take a few minutes to go through.
Which phonesWho can do it (as of October 2026)
| Phone | Where it works | Greece? |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 14 and newer Emergency SOS via satellite | US, Canada, Mexico, UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Andorra, Japan, Australia, New Zealand | Not yet |
| Google Pixel 9 and newer (not the 9a) Satellite SOS | US, Canada, Australia, the UK, Norway, Switzerland and most of the European Union | Yes |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 and some newer models | Through your mobile carrier, mainly in the United States (Verizon, T-Mobile) | Not yet |
Lists change often. To check your own phone, look in its settings for "Satellite" (iPhone: Settings, Emergency SOS, Try Demo; Pixel: Settings, Safety & emergency, Satellite SOS; Samsung: Settings, Connections, Satellite networks).
How to use itStep by step
- Call the emergency number. If the call cannot connect, your phone will offer to text emergency services by satellite.
- Answer the short questions on screen: what happened, who is hurt, where you are. They are made so you can tap, not type.
- Choose whether to tell your emergency contacts.
- Follow the arrows on screen to point your phone at the satellite, and keep it pointed until the message is sent.
- Stay where you are, stay outside, and wait for the reply.
Do it todayPractise before you need it
iPhones and Pixels both have a demo mode that lets you practise connecting to a satellite without calling anyone. Ten minutes of practice on a calm day can save a life on a bad one. Also set your emergency contacts and medical information in your phone's settings, so rescuers and loved ones get them automatically.
Go deeperSources
Everything on this page was written for you here. These are the places we drew from, if you want to walk further on your own: