When Apple releases the next iPhone operating software, iOS 18.5 (and it’s imminent: read this for exactly when it will land), it will have a feature nobody was expecting: satellite connectivity for the iPhone 13 series. The software update that makes this possible is free though the carrier may or may not charge for the service.
Here’s why it’s a surprise: Apple introduced satellite connectivity for emergency text messages with the iPhone 14. But the iPhone 13 didn’t have the right hardware to make this happen. It still doesn’t, obviously.
Instead, what Apple will bring to the iPhone with iOS 18.5 is what are called “carrier-provided satellite features,” as Apple describes it.
In other words, this service is dependent on carriers like T-Mobile which, as 9to5Mac describes it, works differently. “By contrast, carrier-provided satellite services behave more like conventional cellular connections and require a participating plan to work,” it says.
Other iPhones, specifically iPhone 14 and newer handsets, have had this capability since iOS 18.3 was released, but adding this capability to the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max wasn’t foreseen.
These services work when the carrier joins up with a satellite company. For instance, in the U.S., the carrier T-Mobile has teamed up with Starlink so that it can deliver satellite connectivity to cellphones.
“In the United States, T-Mobile has partnered with SpaceX to bring Starlink satellite-based internet connectivity to network dead zones. The service is currently in beta until July. Any iPhone user with any carrier can register to test the service before it goes live. T-Mobile will also sell service to any iPhone user, regardless of what carrier the iPhone uses,” 9to5Mac says.
It’s worth remembering that this emphatically does not install Starlink on your iPhone — something that scaremongers suggested back in February 2025.
Instead, this update will simply provide support for satellite features supported by carriers, whoever the satellite provider and whoever the carrier.
In case you’re wondering how we know this is going to happen, the source of information is pretty pristine: it’s from Apple. When it launched the release candidate beta for iOS 18.5 on Tuesday, May 6, the release notes gave it away.
“Support for carrier-provided satellite features is available on iPhone 13 (all models),” the last note reads.
