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Elon Musk said Tuesday that SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink, would allow people stranded in the wilderness to access emergency services for free via their mobile phones.
The CEO of SpaceX made the comments in a post on X. The company is currently partnering with T-Mobile to Federal Communications Commission Commercially operate Starlink cellular direct connect technology.
SpaceX says its satellite-based service would provide supplemental cell service to Americans from space and eliminate cell phone “dead zones.” Cell phone service providers AT&T and Verizon have expressed concerns that the technology could disrupt their mobile networks.
in letter In a filing with the FCC on Friday, SpaceX said the service could connect emergency responders in a variety of environments and send wireless emergency alerts to everyone, not just T-Mobile customers in areas without terrestrial cell service.
The company has asked the FCC to allow it to operate the satellite commercially, saying it will “connect Americans in places where wireless service has not previously been available.”
in X Post Musk highlighted the wireless emergency alert system on Tuesday, saying it “could help a lot of people who are stranded out in the wilderness.”
“After much consideration, SpaceX Starlink will provide free mobile emergency service access to those in need,” Musk said in a subsequent post. “This will apply globally, subject to government approval. No one should ever die because they forgot or couldn’t pay.”
It’s unclear how exactly emergency services will work, and SpaceX did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
Musk’s post may have been intended as a call-out to the FCC as it considers approving direct-to-cell phone services.
Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr responded favorably to the announcement, saying: X Post“Direct-to-cell technology will be extremely useful for public safety communications and emergency responders.”
Satellite-based emergency services could be similar to Apple’s Emergency SOS service available on newer iPhones, which allows iPhones outside of cellular range to call for help from emergency services via satellite.
Apple’s Emergency SOS feature is available on iPhone 14 and 15 models and is free for two years after activating your phone. The feature has been used around the world, including by hikers stranded in the woods in Oregon and a couple who fell off a cliff in California.