Blocking Starlink access in iOS 18.3

cedrickmccallom wrote:

I am an att user .

In which case it does not affect you AT ALL.

Please stop feeding the paranoia.

I posted this in another thread on the subject. PLEASE take a moment to read it and at least try to understand the reality of the situation.

Apple didn’t implement anything “in secret”.

Let’s get this straight once and for all. Apple is including the ability to make calls via satellite into iOS. This is a standards based protocol.

Apple is NOT partnering with Starlink. The carriers are free to partner with whatever satellite service providers they like.

So far, T-Mobile is the only carrier that’s implemented this in ANY way. it is currently in beta. T-Mobile has chosen Starlink as their satellite partner. If you don’t like it, don’t use T-Mobile or don’t join their beta program.

Even if you do opt into the service it does NOT give Starlink or Elon Musk access to your phone. Just as using AT&T or Verizon for cellular service does not give them access to your phone. The service provider, whether it’s cellular, satellite, or WiFi carries the traffic and routes it from one place to another. That’s all.

Please stop it with the ridiculous paranoia.

This functionality is going to be included in pretty much every smart phone in the near future, whether it’s an iPhone, Android device, or something else.

CDG1978 wrote:

I am an AT&T customer, too, with an iPhone 12, and just blessedly happened across a Facebook post that this update would be installed tonight, and IMMEDIATELY went into my Settings and turned off automatic updates to avoid this one. I 100% agree that this should be an optional install for those who want it, but also a separated one from an update that has the regular bug fixes and all the other stuff that keeps a phone running optimally and protected from viruses or what have you. Why should we be left to those chances just to avoid something invasive (well, more invasive than we are used to...and that makes my skin crawl) we don't want on our phones? I HATE how so much of our privacy is being taken away bit by bit so quickly now. It's scary and angers me. And I don't trust Elon Musk as far as I could punt him off a cliff...and I'm a small 5'3 female with a knee replacement so that should tell you how far he would go. This is just WRONG.

Good for you. But AT&T isn't partnered with Starlink. Apple isn't partnered with Starlink. T-Mobile IS partnered with Starlink. Since you're not a T-Mobile customer, there is NO WAY your iPhone can connect with Starlink. AT&T doesn't and isn't likely going to use Starlink. AT&T uses AST SpaceMobile for satellite communications, which has NOTHING to do with Starlink. So you've accomplished nothing by stopping updates. Your phone won't and can't be connected to Starlink. And by avoiding updates, you're leaving yourself vulnerable to at least 29 threats which were fixed in iOS 18.3. I don't even believe an iPhone 12 is capable of using Satellite communications, so you're reacting to something which simply cannot impact you in any way.

It's not a great idea to base your technology decisions based on posts on Facebook.

StarLink is not a feature of your phone. It is a feature offered for beta testing by T-Mobile in the US.

• If you don’t have T-Mobile you don’t have it on your phone.
• If you do have T-Mobile and you don’t sign up for the beta test you don’t have it on your phone.
• And, if it ever goes live and you have T-Mobile, you STILL won’t have it on your phone unless you turn it on, as it is a feature of the carrier, not of the iPhone; sort of like switching between LTE and 5G, except there will be an option to chose band N51, which is what StarLink uses, and you don’t have to choose it.
• The above information applies to Android phones, where T-Mobile is also beta testing StarLink.

The satellite emergency service on iPhone 14 and later does NOT use StarLink; it uses a different satellite service.

No, iOS 18.3 doesn't install Starlink on your iPhone, and it doesn't give Elon Musk's Starlink direct access to your phone. The update simply allows T-Mobile-connected iPhones to use the Starlink network when they're outside of traditional coverage, but only if you've opted into the beta and have been selected ¹.

To clarify, Starlink support is a T-Mobile network feature, not an iPhone or iOS 18.3 feature. Apple has partnered with Globalstar, not Starlink, for its Emergency SOS via Satellite service ² ¹.

If you're concerned about using Starlink, you can easily disable and re-enable it in the future. Here's how to block Starlink access on your iPhone:

To Disable Starlink: Go to Settings > Cellular > T-Mobile (or your carrier) > toggle off Satellite ².

Keep in mind that Starlink access is only available to T-Mobile customers who have joined the beta testing program. If you're not a T-Mobile customer or haven't joined the beta, you don't need to worry about Starlink access.

[Edited by Moderator]

khun92 wrote:

I strongly suggest NOT updating to 18.3 until we know more, we must try and learn more about this before upgrading

I strongly suggest UPDATING to 18.3.1, which resolves 30 security vulnerabilities, any of which would be a much greater risk to you and your iPhone than the mythical issue of StarLink being built in to iOS 13 (HINT: It isn’t)

Lawrence Finch wrote:

• StarLink is not a feature of your phone. It is a feature offered for beta testing by T-Mobile in the US.

If you don’t have T-Mobile you don’t have it on your phone.

• If you do have T-Mobile and you don’t sign up for the beta test you don’t have it on your phone.

• And, if it ever goes live and you have T-Mobile, you STILL won’t have it on your phone unless you turn it on, as it is a feature of the carrier, not of the iPhone; sort of like switching between LTE and 5G, except there will be an option to chose band N51, which is what StarLink uses, and you don’t have to choose it.

• The above information applies to Android phones, where T-Mobile is also beta testing StarLink.

The satellite emergency service on iPhone 14 and later does NOT use StarLink; it uses a different satellite service.

Succinct and well written as usual!

Hi, you made multiple statements not based in facts.

Apple uses AST GlobalStar to provide SOS Satellite service. Apple is approximately a 20% owner having invested over $500 M.

AT&T is partnered with AST Space Global for their service and they’ve invested $100’s of millions also.

Verizon has partnered with Inmarsat and Skylo for cellular and emergency services.

Starlink exclusively uses the 5G N51 band for cellular communications. Only T-Mobile can offer that band in the US.

All iOS 18.3 did was add provisions for T-Mobile customers to opt into the beta testing of Starlink.

If you’re a T-Mobile subscriber please contact T-Mobile’s support team for additional information and assistance.

Smootz1824 wrote:

I too want to know if there’s a way to block access because I absolutely do not trust Starlink!

StarLink is not a feature of your phone. It is a feature offered for beta testing by T-Mobile in the US. 

• If you don’t have T-Mobile you don’t have it on your iPhone. 
• If you do have T-Mobile and you don’t sign up for the beta test you don’t have it on your phone. 
• And, if it ever goes live and you have T-Mobile, you STILL won’t have it on your phone unless you turn it on, as it is a feature of the carrier, not of the iPhone; sort of like switching between LTE and 5G, except there will be an option to chose StarLink, which uses the N51 cellular band, and you don’t have to choose it.
• The above information applies to Android phones, where T-Mobile is also beta testing StarLink.

The satellite emergency service on iPhone 14 and later does NOT use StarLink; it uses a different satellite service.

If you have T-Mobile AND decide to join the beta test there will be a switch in Settings/Cellular/T-Mobile/Satellite where you can turn it on or off.

StarLink is not a feature of your phone. It is a feature offered for beta testing by T-Mobile in the US. 

• If you don’t have T-Mobile you don’t have it on your iPhone. 
• If you do have T-Mobile and you don’t sign up for the beta test you don’t have it on your phone. 
• And, if it ever goes live and you have T-Mobile, you STILL won’t have it on your phone unless you turn it on, as it is a feature of the carrier, not of the iPhone; sort of like switching between LTE and 5G, except there will be an option to chose Satellite, which uses the N51 cellular band, and you don’t have to choose it.
• The above information applies to Android phones, where T-Mobile is also beta testing StarLink.

The satellite emergency service on iPhone 14 and later does NOT use StarLink; it uses a different satellite service.

If you have T-Mobile AND decide to join the beta test or if the StarLink ever goes live for T-Mobile there will be a switch in Settings/Cellular/T-Mobile/Satellite where you can turn it on or off.

Elon nor Starlink will have access to your phone anymore than Qualcomm does. It’s built into your cell phone modem and if your carrier eventually provides it, it will be for a fee that you don’t have to pay if you don’t want to. This is ground breaking, territory, set in motion just like roaming, should the feature come to your carrier, you will have a button to turn it off. It’s a paid service. Don’t pay for an app you don’t want, and you won’t get the app. Besides, if it does come to your cell phone and you really don't want to pay for it, don’t sign up. Even if it eventually makes it to your cell carrier, You can turn it off, just like roaming or WiFI. Stop over reacting to a feature you can disable, aren’t paying for, that can be disabled, and could save 1000’s of lives per year, and enable millions around the world connect when no other option is available. This is hysteria.

ca_sem wrote:

As an AT&T user I will not update my phone to 18.3 as long as it forces us to put anything related to Elon Musk. I’ll take my business elsewhere!

Where will you take your business? StarLink access is already on Android phones. iPhones are kind of late to the game.

Although, actually it is on neither. T-Mobile is offering StarLink as a beta, which has nothing to do with Apple, other than T-Mobile requiring iOS 13.3.

StarLink is not a feature of your phone. It is a feature offered for beta testing by T-Mobile in the US. 

• If you don’t have T-Mobile you don’t have it on your iPhone. 
• If you do have T-Mobile and you don’t sign up for the beta test you don’t have it on your phone. 
• And, if it ever goes live and you have T-Mobile, you STILL won’t have it on your phone unless you turn it on, as it is a feature of the carrier, not of the iPhone; sort of like switching between LTE and 5G, except there will be an option to turn on Satellite in addition to LTE and 5G, and you don’t have to turn it on.
• The above information applies to Android phones, where T-Mobile is also beta testing StarLink.

The satellite emergency service on iPhone 14 and later does NOT use StarLink; it uses a different satellite service.

If you have T-Mobile AND decide to join the beta test or if the StarLink ever goes live for T-Mobile there will be a switch in Settings/Cellular/T-Mobile/Satellite where you can turn it on or off.

You can opt-out of Starlink and block it:

Go to Settings > Cellular > T-Mobile

Toggle OFF Satellite

This will block Starlink access in iOS 18.3

FYI, if you're not using T-Mobile as a carrier, there is nothing you need to do. You won't be able to access Starlink satellites anyways. Currently only T-Mobile offers this as a beta. It also requires registration with T-Mobile, so if you haven't done that, you can be sure that you're not connecting to Starlink in any way shape or form.

Folks aren’t just misinformed, they lack an even basic understanding of how telecommunications works.

Your iPhone has a radio/modem that’s a chip inside your iPhone. It receives specific channels or wavelengths. This is just like the FM radio in your car.

The Federal Communications Commission regulates what providers get which channels. The telecoms actually bid billions on specific channels and thereby have specific rights to those channels or frequencies (wavelengths). T-Mobile has the exclusive rights to the 1900 MHz frequencies. The FCC HAS granted Space X (Starlink) to use that band for direct to cellular service.

The 1900 MHz frequencies and the specific channel on the radio/modem on your iPhone is referred to as n51 as I recall. All cellular radios are capable of receiving that channel. Just like your car FM radio can receive all the FM channels.

If you or I don’t want to listen to conservative talk radio, then we won’t tune our radios to those stations. If you don’t want Starlink, don’t subscribe to T-Mobile.

You are operating under false assumptions.

Apple uses GlobalStar to provide SOS Satellite service. Apple is approximately a 20% owner having invested over $500 M.

AT&T is partnered with AST SpaceMobile for their service and they’ve invested $100’s of millions also.

Verizon has partnered with Inmarsat and Skylo for cellular and emergency services.

Starlink exclusively uses the 5G N51 band for cellular communications. Only T-Mobile can offer that band in the US.

All iOS 18.3 did was add provisions for T-Mobile customers to opt into the beta testing of Starlink.

If you’re a T-Mobile subscriber please contact T-Mobile’s support team for additional information and assistance.

The update does nothing to install Starlink on your device. Newer iPhones already have satellite connectivity. T-Mobile now offers starlink through a beta program. So, if you are a T-Mobile customer, and opt into the beta, your satellite radio will connect to starlink. This is no different than say selecting a different wifi network on your device.