Telstra Satellite

It's included in all Telstra Upfront Mobile Plans, so there is no separate charge for sending texts via satellite.

Telstra Satellite Messaging is included on Consumer and Small Business Telstra Upfront Mobile Plans. You also need a compatible phone with the latest software.
JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys Upfront Plans are excluded.

Telstra Satellite Messaging is available from most outdoor areas on mainland Australia and Tasmania, and in immediate offshore areas as shown in the map below. It can only be accessed if your compatible phone is beyond the reach of our mobile network, if you are outdoors, and if you have a clear line of sight to the sky.

But there are a few places where it won’t work. There is no Telstra Satellite Messaging coverage in the Australian Radio Quiet Zone in Western Australia, north-east of Geraldton or in the remote offshore territories and islands of Australia.

No, Telstra Satellite Messaging cannot be used to call 000 or 112 Emergency services. Nor can you text Triple Zero (000) directly from Telstra Satellite Messaging.

Select Satellite Apps allow for the use of limited data to a small set of low-bandwidth satellite-optimised applications (such as navigation messaging and weather apps).

These apps are adapted by third-party providers to work over satellite-to-mobile connectivity and are designed for limited network capacity and intermittent satellite connections, rather than full internet access. As a result, the experience may differ from that of a standard mobile network connection. 

Available apps 

Navigation: Google Maps, Apple Maps, AllTrails, Caltopo, Apple compass, Apple Find My and Google Find

Messaging: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Signal, Apple messages and Google messages with Gemini

Light social/fitness: X, Apple Fitness and Google Fitness

Weather: AccuWeather, Google weather and Apple weather

Telstra: My Telstra

Yes, data usage counts toward your existing data allowance, similar to how apps use data in a regular mobile data session.

Yes, before you plan to go beyond the range of our mobile network, plan to connect via Telstra Satellite by:

• Having a compatible phone on an eligible plan with the latest software update; and
• Downloading and logging into the latest versions of the compatible apps as apps can’t be downloaded or updated over Telstra Satellite. Logging in is recommended as some apps use web browsers for authentication that are incompatible with satellite networks.

As the satellite connection may be different, your app may present simpler screens, fewer images, or limited features so it can work over satellite. These features are controlled by third party app developers. When your phone connects via satellite, apps automatically run in a more limited way to suit satellite connectivity. This means some features may be unavailable or simplified, especially those that need lots of data or a constant connection.

For example:

• Text only messages may appear instead of images or video.
• Some actions may take a little longer to send or receive.
• Background activity (like auto syncing or refreshing feeds) may pause.

Your experience with Select Satellite Apps may be different to using apps connected to the mobile network.
Some actions may take a little longer to load, and updates may not happen instantly. This is normal and expected when using satellite technology.

Select Satellite Apps cannot be used for full internet access or traditional voice calls, including calls to Triple Zero.
Select Satellite Apps is designed for short, lightweight app use when our mobile network isn’t available.  It is not designed for services that require high-data, low latency or continuous connectivity.
  
Examples of activities that are not supported, or may not work as expected, include:

• Video or music streaming
• In-app video and audio calls
• Large file uploads or downloads
• Cloud-backups, syncing or background data
• Rich social media feeds with images or videos
• Live navigation with detailed or dynamic maps
• Online gaming or real-time collaboration tools
• Any apps requiring fast speeds, low latency, or constant connectivity

Your experience with Select Satellite Apps may be different to using apps connected to the mobile network

If an app isn’t enabled for satellite but your phone is clearly presenting a connection to satellite (Telstra SpaceX displayed as a network identifier), the app may open but won’t work fully or at all. 

You might see:

• An error or “no connection” message. 
• Content that doesn’t load (such as images or video).
• Actions that fail to send or time out.

Once you reconnect to our mobile network or are within Wi-Fi range, the app will return to normal and work as expected.

At this time, only a select number of apps have been tested as compatible with satellite connectivity. We are working with developers to enable more apps over time.

Your experience with Select Satellite Apps may be different to using apps connected to the mobile network.

For iPhone 13 and above, you can see what apps are satellite enabled by clicking on Settings > Mobile > Mobile Data Options (or select the SIM if there are multiple SIMs). Satellite will be toggled on.

For Samsung Galaxy S26 series, you can see what apps are satellite enabled by clicking on Settings > Connections > Satellite Networks on the device. Scroll down within Satellite Networks to view available satellite‑ready apps.

You can see enabled apps and can toggle them on and off as you wish. Make sure you do this before you go beyond the range of our mobile network.

Yes, Telstra is working with device manufacturers to expand the range of supported mobile phones, particularly those compatible with 'Telstra Satellite Messaging'. Samsung Galaxy devices which support Telstra Satellite Messaging, will support 'Select Satellite Apps' with the One UI 9.0 update.