Just a day after Verizon made headlines with its support for satellite messaging on the Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25 series, two more U.S. carriers are joining the move. Spectrum Mobile and Xfinity Mobile — both of which operate on Verizon’s network — have officially confirmed that they, too, are enabling satellite-based emergency messaging for compatible devices.
According to a joint announcement from Charter Communications and Comcastthe satellite messaging functionality is being delivered in partnership with Skyloa non-terrestrial network (NTN) service provider. This feature allows users to send and receive emergency text messages when they’re outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage — a crucial tool for remote travelers, outdoor enthusiasts, or anyone in an emergency situation.
Currently supported on:
The feature is available nowbut full SMS texting over satellite will be enabled in the coming weeks. For now, the focus is on emergency messaging onlythough wider use may be possible down the line.
When a Pixel 9 or Galaxy S25 user finds themselves in an area with no signaltheir phone will automatically prompt them to switch to satellite mode (if enabled). They’ll then be able to:
This comes as part of a broader industry push to integrate satellite communications into mainstream smartphones without requiring special hardware or accessories. Apple already implemented its own satellite SOS feature last year, but the new rollout across Android devices is a significant leap for non-iPhone users.
Charter and Comcast have also teased that satellite messaging will be expanded to additional devices in the futureincluding iPhonesalthough most modern iPhones already include a similar feature for emergencies.
The feature rollout is currently underwaywith broader availability expected in the next few weeks. Users are encouraged to check for software updates and ensure satellite messaging is enabled in device settings once the feature goes live.
