Starlink activates emergency phone connectivity for Hurricane Milton
Starlink activates emergency phone connectivity for Hurricane Milton
SpaceX has received emergency temporary approval to provide space-based connectivity to T-Mobile customers in Florida who may lose cellular service due to Hurricane Milton.
To clarify the headline a bit, the connectivity is for "T-Mobile customers in Florida who may lose cellular service due to Hurricane Milton", not connectivity for the hurricane itself, which I assume is doing just fine.
Yeah I just got off the phone with Milton. He's doing just fine.
Also be aware that these satellites can broadcast wireless emergency alerts, which will go to all customers, regardless of carrier. I posted more about it on !t_mobile@lemmy.ml
In the US, mobile devices can't make emergency calls using any network? I never noticed, but it's law for everywhere else I know. If there's any network in range, regardless of who owns it or if it's the driven around pop-up towers, anything with an IMEI can use whatever's around for emergency comms.
That's correct, worldwide as far as I know. But doesn't help if there's no network available at all. Usually, multiple carriers will use the same tower, so if that falls over, you're outta luck.