Globalstar and Skylo partner to expand satellite emergency services

Globalstar has confirmed a deal with Skylo to expand direct-to-device emergency and safety services. The partnership aims to support satellite messaging for a wide range of mobile devices, including the Google Pixel line and certain Samsung Galaxy models.

In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, Globalstar indicated its support for Skylo’s application to provide services to up to 250 million devices. Skylo is expected to utilize connectivity from Globalstar’s upcoming C-3 satellite constellation, with the first launches scheduled for next year.

This development follows the existing satellite SOS capabilities found in Apple’s iPhone 14 and later models, as well as newer Google Pixel devices. These features allow users to send emergency text messages when cellular or Wi-Fi coverage is unavailable, provided they have a clear view of the sky.