T-Mobile and SpaceX are running satellite text messaging for Los Angeles fires

like Fires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area, T-Mobile and SpaceX It announced Thursday night that it will turn on Starlink coverage for those who need it.

“Today, T-Mobile and Starlink opened T-Mobile Starlink Direct-to-Cellular service in affected areas of Southern California to provide wireless emergency alerts and SMS and enable text messaging to 911,” the wireless carrier said. “Although SpaceX’s direct-to-cell constellation has not yet been fully deployed, we are once again making this early beta temporarily available to those who need it most.”

The carrier says its network has “maintained strength” and that it has “also restored nearly half of the sites affected by the loss of commercial power.”

“As conditions permit it to be done safely, our teams are evaluating affected sites in Altadena, Duarte, Calabasas, Malibu, Fillmore and Agoura Hills, and are continuing to deploy and refuel portable generators at the sites until commercial power is restored.”

The Los Angeles fires are the latest deployment of a new satellite feature to keep its users connected during natural disasters. The service was previously enabled in response to Hurricane Milton and Helen last year.

As was the case with the hurricanes, satellite texting will be limited to T-Mobile users with “subsidized phones.” However, wireless emergency alerts and evacuation notifications can be sent via satellite to anyone in affected areas regardless of their wireless carrier.

It’s worth noting again that these are SMS, or traditional text messages, and are done through your phone’s regular messaging app. It will not work with Internet-based messaging services or apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger. T-Mobile told CNET that supported devices include “most” Android phones and older iPhones from the iPhone 14 series.

Apple users with an iPhone 14 (or later) and running iOS 18 iMessages, regardless of carrier, can also be sent via satellite In areas where they don’t have coverage thanks to it Apple’s partnership with satellite company Globalstar. T-Mobile says users with these iPhones will use Apple’s satellite services and not SpaceX’s Starlink.

Although it used the service in emergency situations, the deployment of the service in Los Angeles comes shortly after T-Mobile and SpaceX announced it. They will begin beta testing the service this year And open registration.

Watch this: Apple vs. Google: Satellite Emergency Features Comparison

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