Elon Musk said Tuesday that Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, would allow people stranded in the wilderness to access emergency services for free via their mobile phones.
SpaceX’s CEO made the remarks in an X-post as the company, in partnership with T-Mobile, is currently applying to the Federal Communications Commission for approval to commercially operate its direct-to-cellular Starlink technology.
SpaceX says the satellite-based service would provide Americans with additional cellular reception from space, closing “radio dead zones.” Cellphone providers AT&T and Verizon have raised concerns about the technology, including that it could disrupt their own cellular networks.
In a letter to the FCC on Friday, SpaceX said the service will connect first responders in a variety of environments and will be able to send wireless emergency alerts to anyone – not just T-Mobile customers – in places where there is no cellular reception on Earth.
The company asked the FCC to grant it permission to operate the satellites commercially “to connect Americans in places where there has never been cellular service before.”
In an X-post on Tuesday, Musk highlighted the wireless emergency alert system, saying it could “help a lot of people when they are stranded in the wilderness.”
“After careful consideration, SpaceX Starlink will provide access to cell phones for emergency services to people in need at no cost,” Musk said in a follow-up post. “This will apply worldwide and is subject to approval by national governments. It cannot be that someone dies because they forgot or were unable to pay for it.”
It’s unclear exactly how the emergency services would work. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Musk’s post may have been aimed at appealing to the FCC, which is considering approving the direct-to-cellular service.
Brendan Carr, a Republican FCC commissioner, reacted positively to the announcement, responding in an X-post: “Direct-to-cell technology will really benefit public safety communications and first responders.”
The satellite-based emergency service could be similar to Apple’s Emergency SOS service available on newer iPhones, which allows iPhones that are outside of cellular network range to request help from emergency services via satellite, among other methods.
Apple’s Emergency SOS feature is available on iPhone models 14 and 15 and is free for two years after the phone is activated. The feature has been used around the world, including by hikers stranded in an Oregon forest and a couple who drove off a cliff in California.
