Get help for Telstra Satellite Messaging

Compatible devices include certain smartphones with satellite messaging capabilities. You must be on a Telstra Upfront Mobile Plan and have the latest software on your device. Check eligible devices.

No, Telstra Satellite Messaging is not supported on your Smartwatch via Telstra One Number.

Telstra Satellite Messaging is available on compatible devices for Consumer and Small Business Telstra Upfront Mobile Plans, regardless of the SIM type.

If you change to another Upfront Mobile Plan you will continue to have Telstra Satellite Messaging included in your plan.

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 Direct to Cell satellite, the phone will display "Telstra SpaceX" on the network banner.

You can send text messages and emojis via SMS, 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.

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 Direct to Cell 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 Direct to Cell 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 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.

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 is not designed to be an emergency service, as you cannot text Australian emergency responders 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.

Telstra Satellite Messaging cannot be used to call 000 or 112 Emergency services. Nor can you text Australian emergency responders directly.

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.

On Android devices, activating ‘Airplane Mode’ will prevent connection to all networks including satellite services. (Samsung devices don’t have the ability to toggle switch Satellite mobile settings on or off.)

Switching between the Starlink Direct to Cell 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.

To use Telstra Satellite Messaging you need a compatible phone with the latest software and be located outdoors within the satellite network with a clear view of the sky. Telstra Satellite Messaging is included for all Consumer and Small Business Upfront Mobile Plan customers, whilst the service is being progressively turned on for existing Business Mobile plan customers.