Since January 7th, the wildfires in Los Angeles continue to destroy homes and businesses in its path. Officials have announced that at least 10 people have been killed and over 1,000 buildings destroyed or damaged beyond repair. In this time of grave situation, T-Mobile and Starlink have activated their satellite messaging system to help with those affected by the emergency.
The satellite messaging system comes as a huge help during this time, especially since a number of cell towers and masts have already burned down by the fires. Some towers have also lost power. During this time, individuals have difficulty getting help and reaching out to their loved ones affected by the wildfires.
SpaceX, owner of Starlink, sent out a tweet on Thursday making the announcement.
“It’s absolutely devastating seeing the destruction caused by the California wildfires.
@TMobile is doing everything we can to keep affected communities connected. Today, we opened up our T-Mobile Starlink Direct-to-Cellular service over the impacted areas. And although SpaceX’s full constellation isn’t fully deployed yet, this will give the ability to deliver wireless emergency alerts and SMS and enable 911 texting, even without commercial power or terrestrial coverage. https://bit.ly/4fW9ciO”
This means that if you are a T-Mobile customer affected by the wildfire, you can now send and receive texts to your friends and relatives using the Direct-to-Cell satellites. Users can also make 911 calls to report an emergency.
It’s important to note that while the satellite messaging system is a big help, it’s currently an “early test version” of SpaceX’s direct-to-cell constellation. It’s currently serving as an emergency connection for those who badly need it.
Apple iPhone 14 or later users (non-T-Mobile customers) can also send a message to emergency contacts using their device’s “Emergency SOS via satellite.” The text will be sent in areas with a clear view of the night sky. Of course, you do have to be mindful of your surroundings and evacuate as soon as you can if there is an imminent threat to yourself. This is currently free for iPhone 14, 15, and 16 users.
Source: PhoneArena
