Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
TL; DR
- A survivor of Nepal’s tragic floods says satellite communications have helped him contact rescuers after conventional networks failed.
- It was reported that he reached the helicopter and was evacuated from the disaster area.
- In this case, the satellite features adopted by the major phone manufacturers demonstrate the life-saving potential.
Satellite connectivity has gradually become a familiar smartphone feature in recent years, offering a way to call for help when conventional networks are unavailable. The technology proved its worth during the tragic floods in Tibet-Nepal, where one survivor said it helped him contact rescuers and escape to safety.
Have you used a satellite connection on your phone?
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as reported PhoneArenaA crash survivor said he was able to stay connected to the outside world using a satellite connection on his HUAWEI Mate X5 after losing stable network service. He later posted about his experience on HUAWEI CEO Richard Yu’s social media account.
The survivor said he used a satellite connection to contact the helicopter and was later evacuated. He explained that the experience showed how valuable satellite communications can be when disasters knock conventional networks offline.
Apple introduced Emergency SOS via satellite with the iPhone 14 series, and Google has since added satellite SOS to its Pixel phones. Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series supports satellite communications in North America, Europe and Japan.
Hopefully, most users won’t need to rely on a satellite connection in such critical situations. This survivor’s account is a prime example of why phone manufacturers put so much effort into it. It’s the kind of feature you’ll never need, but can be invaluable in a crisis.
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