T-Mobile and Starlink are teaming up to provide satellite-based cell reception during emergencies like Hurricane Milton. The direct-to-cell network activation provides emergency communication well before it was planned to be ready for launch.

Cell phone users across Florida have complained of network slowdowns or outages in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

Right now, in areas where Hurricanes Helene and Milton have ravaged wireless phone towers, people can still receive emergency information and even send text messages to friends and families, thanks to new technologies that let standard smartphones send data to satellites functioning as orbiting cell towers.

Cell phones have the capability to send messages to satellites when a severe weather event or emergency occurs. Here is how it works.

The phone will automatically activate SOS capability when you are not within cell service, but to get the satellite texting feature, you need to do a couple of things. You need to