Verizon Expands Satellite-to-Phone Service for Everyday Messaging

Verizon has introduced a satellite-based fallback option for text messaging, allowing certain Android phones to send texts even in areas without cellular coverage. This service, powered by Skylo, was previously available only for emergency messaging on Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 series devices but now supports regular SMS messaging as well.

Verizon subscribers using these phones may experience a brief delay in accessing this feature. According to Verizon’s press release, the necessary upgrades to enable this service will be rolling out over the next two weeks.

Since the data travels approximately 44,000 miles to and from geostationary satellites in Earth’s orbit, slight delays are expected when using this service. In a February test of the emergency-messaging feature on a Galaxy S25, messages took about five seconds to send after aligning the phone correctly toward the sky.

However, the service is limited to SMS and does not support the more advanced RCS (Rich Communication Services) standard. As a result, messages sent via satellite will lack features like typing indicators and high-resolution media, making them easily distinguishable from RCS messages.

On Thursday, Charter and Comcast—both resellers of Verizon’s network—announced that they would also extend this satellite-messaging capability to their Spectrum Mobile and Xfinity Mobile subscribers.

No additional charges have been mentioned for this service. When Google introduced satellite-based SOS messaging for Pixel 9 devices, the company promised free service for the first two years. Similarly, Apple initially offered free satellite SOS service for iPhone 14 users and later extended it for another year, although it has yet to announce future pricing.

T-Mobile is expected to be next in line to expand satellite texting for Pixel 9 users, as indicated in Google’s March Pixel Drop update. However, T-Mobile has not provided a timeline for this rollout.

Satellite Connectivity Race Heats Up

All three major US carriers—Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile—are actively expanding their satellite connectivity services. AT&T and Verizon are collaborating with AST SpaceMobile to deploy a small constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites that will eventually offer not only messaging but also voice and data services.

T-Mobile, meanwhile, has begun beta testing satellite messaging for its subscribers via SpaceX’s Starlink. The service is expected to support voice and data in the future, pending regulatory approval. T-Mobile plans to charge an additional $15 per month for the service on most plans, while Verizon and AT&T subscribers may face a higher monthly fee of $20.