iPhone users in Japan can now send and receive messages via satellite when they have no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. The new feature supports iPhone 14 or later and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. After updating to iOS 18 or watchOS 26, the device automatically prompts the user to connect to the nearest satellite if conventional networks fail.
Once connected, users can send iMessage or SMS, complete with emoji and reactions (Tapback), and benefit from the same end-to-end encryption used for normal messages.
This update builds on functionality already available in Japan — earlier Apple expanded satellite support to include Emergency SOS and location sharing via the Find My app.
For people living or traveling in remote or mountainous parts of Japan, or anywhere signal coverage is unreliable, satellite messaging could drastically improve safety and communication reliability. The feature doesn’t require extra hardware beyond a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch. Users don’t need to worry about traditional network towers as long as there’s a clear view of the sky, they can stay connected.
Adding this feature to mainstream devices makes satellite messaging feel less like a niche backup plan and more like a mainstream fallback option. In other words, it lowers the barrier for people who may need reliable connectivity without investing in bulky satellite phones or external gear.
Japan has not relied solely on Apple’s implementation for satellite connectivity. In April 2025, local telecommunications provider KDDI launched its “au Starlink Direct” service in partnership with SpaceX. This service lets ordinary smartphones send SMS, receive emergency alerts, share location, and eventually through expanded support, access data via satellite.
Meanwhile, another player Rakuten Mobile teamed up with AST SpaceMobile to complete Japan’s first-ever broadband video call over a LEO satellite using an unmodified smartphone. The companies say the service could roll out to the public as soon as 2026.
This surge in satellite-to-smartphone services suggests Japan is doubling down on connectivity resilience — a strategic move given the country’s complex terrain and frequent natural disasters.
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