Get help for 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.

When you're out of mobile network range, your compatible device will automatically seek a satellite connection if you're outdoors with a clear view of the sky. Once connected to a Starlink Mobile satellite, the phone will display "Telstra SpaceX" on the network banner.

You can send text messages and emojis via SMS, and in most cases by iMessage and RCS (Rich Communications System, Enhanced Messaging). GIFs and stickers aren’t available at this time.

You’ll be able to see that your message has been sent while you’re on the satellite network, but you won’t receive a notification when your message has been received or read.

Telstra Satellite Messaging via iMessage and RCS is incompatible with some other services or service features (ours or third parties). In these cases, text messages can only be sent via SMS.

If you have iMessage activated on your iPhone 13 or later and are eligible for Telstra Satellite Messaging, you should be able to send and receive iMessages.

Your experience with Telstra Satellite Messaging will be different than via a mobile network connection. Although some messages may be instant, others can take minutes or longer, depending on your location, device, and availability of Starlink Mobile satellites. To improve the experience, when using Telstra Satellite Messaging ensure your messaging app remains open.

If you have a clear line of sight to the sky it is unlikely that the weather will affect how the service works. This technology is evolving and continues to be tested in a variety of weather conditions.

If you’re unsure whether your satellite message has been sent, look for the time stamp in your messaging app just like you would when you are connected on the mobile network. If it shows an error message, please re-try sending the message.

Telstra Satellite Messaging is available on your existing eligible Telstra Upfront Plan and eligible device running the latest software, while Telstra Mobile Satellite (Iridium) requires you to have an approved Iridium-certified satellite phone, a Mobile Satellite plan and a separate 10-digit number starting with 01471.

Telstra Satellite to mobile messaging and Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite are two different services making use of distinct satellite constellations.

Apple Emergency SOS via satellite is available on iPhone 14 or later (all models) and can be used to text emergency service when you’re off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. For more information, go to Emergency SOS via satellite on apple.com.

Telstra Satellite Messaging is enabled by Starlink Mobile and complements the Telstra Mobile Network to allow Telstra customers with a compatible device with the latest software, and Upfront Mobile Plan to send and receive texts from most areas of mainland Australia. It is not designed to be an emergency service, especially as you cannot text Australian emergency responders (e.g., 000) directly.

The Telstra SpaceX network identifier at the top of your mobile phone will indicate when you’re connected to the satellite-to-mobile service. When you see this, you can send text messages to your family and friends. The satellite messaging service is available whenever a satellite is passing over, however there may be short gaps which will resolve within a few minutes as soon as the next satellite passes over.

You can send text messages to any standard mobile service in Australia and any standard international mobile service as per your existing Upfront Mobile Plan inclusions.

No, you can’t use Telstra Satellite Messaging when travelling overseas, even if there’s a satellite provider in that country.

It only works in Australia, so if you’re travelling overseas, you’ll need international roaming.

• Satellite messaging won’t work indoors
• Available only when you’re beyond the reach of our mobile network, and outdoors with a clear line of sight to the sky on mainland Australia and Tasmania
• Coverage may only extend up to 50km out to sea from mainland Australia
• May experience greater latency than mobile networks
• Not available in the Australian Radio Quiet Zone in Western Australia and remote offshore territories and islands of Australia.

No, the service doesn’t cover the Australian territorial islands (i.e. Cocos-Keeling, Christmas, Lorde Howe and Norfolk Islands, Macquarie Island, Antarctica, Heard, McDonald Islands).

Coverage may only extend up to 50km out to sea from mainland Australia.

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: 

1. Having a compatible phone on an eligible plan with the latest software update; and
2. 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.
  

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.

Some actions may take a little longer to load, and updates may not happen instantly. This is normal and expected when using satellite technology.

Telstra Satellite requires a clear line of sight to the sky to work. Select Satellite Apps may stop working if:

• There are no available satellites overhead
• The compatible device is detecting a mobile signal which is preventing its ability to connect to a satellite
• There is heavy tree cover
• There are tall cliffs or buildings
• You are indoors.

Once you move back into an open area with a clear line of sight to the sky, the satellite connection, when available, will resume automatically.

No. Satellite-to-mobile technology is a complementary connectivity option for areas beyond the reach of our mobile network. At this time, the technology is slower and less reliable and therefore cannot be a replacement for our mobile network.

Yes. Telstra is working with third party app developers to expand the range of supported apps, focusing on those that can work well with low data usage. However, app developers are responsible for the user experience and compatibility of apps in satellite mode.

For iPhone 13 and above, you can see what apps are satellite enabled in your device settings:

1. Open the Settings app on your device
2. Select Mobile
3. Select Mobile Data Options (or select the SIM if there are multiple SIMs)
4. Satellite will be toggled on.

For Samsung Galaxy S26 series, you can see what apps are satellite enabled in your device settings:

1. the Settings app on your device
2. Select Connections 
3. Select Satellite Networks
4. Scroll down to Satellite Networks to view available satellite‑ready apps.

Yes, if connected to satellite and using an iPhone 13 or later, the chat feature in the My Telstra app will be available. Open the app, click on the Help (?) in the top right corner of the app and a chat bubble will appear in the bottom right corner. Click on this to start chatting to one of our team members.

If a satellite icon appears on a compatible device but the network name does not say “Telstra SpaceX”, that device is not connected to Telstra Satellite. 

The device may be detecting satellite capability or entering an emergency‑ready mode, but it has not established an active Telstra Satellite connection. 

Select Satellite Apps is designed to support a small range of satellite-optimised apps that have been adapted by third-party providers to work over satellite-to-mobile connectivity. While audio and video calling functionality remains available on some messaging apps, Select Satellite Apps is not designed for real-time and high-speed applications. Therefore, any ability to access these features will be intermittent and should not be relied upon as performance is likely to be inconsistent and dependent on location and other conditions. 

It’s important to remember that in Australia, app-based communication services (such as WhatsApp, Signal or Messenger) do not support calls to Triple Zero. This limitation applies regardless of whether the app is being used on a home Wi-Fi network, on a mobile network or via satellite-to-mobile connectivity.

After an eligible customer updates their plan to include Select Satellite Apps, there may be a short delay before the compatible device recognises that it’s eligible to use the service. 

This happens because the plan change needs to be allocated across Telstra’s network and then picked up by the compatible device. In most cases this happens automatically, but it may not be instant. If the compatible device doesn’t recognise that it’s eligible to use Select Satellite Apps, a simple restart of the device usually resolves it.

If you move from a Basic, Essential, Premium or Bundle plan to an Upfront Light plan, you’ll lose access to Select Satellite Apps immediately. However, you’ll continue to have access to Satellite Messaging, as this is available to customers on Upfront Light plans.

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.

Traditional voice calling (using the phone app on your device) is not available through Select Satellite Apps. Some apps included in Select Satellite Apps, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Signal, may have built-in audio or video calling functionality. While audio and video calling functionality may remain available, Select Satellite Apps is not designed for real-time and high-speed applications. Therefore, any ability to access these features will be intermittent and should not be relied upon as performance is likely to be inconsistent and dependent on location and other conditions.​ It’s important to remember that in Australia, app-based communication services (such as WhatsApp, Signal or Messenger) do not support calls to Triple Zero. This limitation applies regardless of whether the app is being used on a home Wi-Fi network, on a mobile network or via satellite-to-mobile connectivity.

You may still receive push notifications from apps that are not currently supported over the satellite network. This is because receiving a push notification is separate from the App’s functionality. While a notification may be delivered, it does not mean the app itself is supported over satellite.  If you open the app, some features or functionality will not work until you reconnect to a mobile or Wi-Fi 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.

First, make sure you have an eligible plan and compatible device with the latest software, are located in an area beyond the range of our mobile network and have a clear line of sight to the sky, then:

1. Check that ‘Telstra SpaceX’ is displayed on your phone
2. Open your messaging application
3. Compose message
4. Hit send.

We don’t know for certain how satellite to mobile will perform in a disaster scenario. Network congestion (a spike in people trying to send messages via satellite) may impact the experience and ability for messages to get through.

Telstra Satellite Messaging supports text messaging only, so it cannot be used to call 000 or 112 Emergency services. Nor can you text Triple Zero (000) directly.

If you intend to visit remote regions, it is always recommended to plan ahead and take extra precautions in the case of an emergency.

Yes. Customers on eligible plans with compatible handsets who are d/Deaf or find it hard to hear or speak to hearing people on the phone can use Telstra Satellite Messaging to access the National Relay Service (NRS) ‘type and read SMS relay’ service. It’s important to remember the SMS relay service can take minutes or even hours before an SMS is delivered.

If you’re beyond the reach of our mobile network, the ‘SAT mode’ will be triggered on your compatible device automatically, you don’t need to switch on or off.

Once your phone has connected to a satellite, the network identifier will change from ‘Telstra’ to ‘Telstra SpaceX’ and a satellite icon will be displayed.

When connected to the satellite, you’ll be able to send and receive text via SMS, iMessage and RCS (Rich Communications System, Enhanced Messaging).

To turn off satellite messaging:

• On Android devices: Activating Airplane Mode will prevent connection to all networks, including satellite services. Samsung devices don’t have the ability to turn Satellite mobile settings on or off
• On Apple devices, you can utilise the toggle feature to turn off Satellite Messaging. For how to turn off Satellite Messaging on iPhone using toggle feature follow Apple's instructions to turn off carrier-provided satellite features.

Switching between the Starlink Mobile satellite network and the Telstra Mobile network happens automatically. When a mobile network is found, your phone will prioritise the mobile network connection.

You’ll receive a message sent or failed notification in the same way as the mobile network.

Good to know: It may take longer for messages to be sent via Satellite Messaging. To improve the experience, when using Telstra Satellite Messaging ensure your messaging app remains open.

Make sure you:

• have an eligible plan that supports satellite messaging 
• are using a compatible device with the latest software downloaded, 
• are outdoors with a clear line of sight of the sky; and 
• have ‘Telstra SpaceX’ displayed on your phone.