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Blocking Starlink access in iOS 18.3

iPhone v18.3 will give Elon Musk's Starlink access to our phones.

Is there any way to block, deactivate or opt out rather than just open access?

I suggest NOT updating until we learn more.



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Feb 2, 2025 2:55 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 3, 2025 10:50 AM

Based on who owns Starlink and his attitude towards data privacy, I don't want to connect to Starlink in any circumstance.


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Feb 12, 2025 6:01 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Jeff Donald wrote:

No, the actual test study was the invisible bank robber in Pittsburgh, PA. It’s someone that knows a very small amount of something and then thinks they’re an expert. The graph looks like this.


Well, apparently I knew a small amount bout the Dunning-Kruger Effect and thought I knew much more. ;-)


Thank you!

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Feb 24, 2025 4:34 AM in response to Bex1981

If enough people actually officially submit feedback to Apple (and not just talk about it in forums or social media), there’s a better likelihood that they will get the message and make changes. I often forget to actually contact the company I’m upset with, but it’s what makes an impact.

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Feb 24, 2025 4:40 AM in response to jeneanfarris

There are no changes that Apple can make. Apple has not partnered with Starlink. T-Mobile is offering the service to their subscribers and it doesn’t matter the brand of cellphone. So, Apple iPhone owners, Samsung phone owners etc. will have access to the service if they are a T-Mobile subscriber.


If you’re a t-mobile subscriber consider switching to AT&T or Verizon. But will be offering satellite service from different providers in the near future.



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Feb 24, 2025 9:57 AM in response to Jeff Donald

If Apple just enabled some hardware/software needed to connect to starlink only, that’s highly concerning. If it can connect to any satellite not limited to starlink / only limited by carrier, then sure that’s fine — if it’s actually optional. 


We know Apple devices can be tracked even when location is disabled and when phone is off.. and often, not all features that facilitate surveillance without consent are fully advertised to public. Also sneaking in Apple intelligence (forced on us through the update), and not giving a heads up is also suspect. And the CEO donating a million $ to the pres inauguration party to signal compliance with an authoritarian regime is also highly concerning. People have reason to be concerned. That is the point. And they don’t want more of their private info stolen by apartheid techno-brat billionaire oligarchs. 


Folks may be somewhat misinformed about how this satellite service works, but a lot of the folks getting lost in semantics here are missing the bigger sentiment and message. However, the clarity is appreciated and I’m sure folks get it now from you and several others sharing the same explanation. 


The bigger message that might be getting lost is that people are pushing back on anything possibly associated with starlink / musk or his rich buddies. Hopefully Apple gets that larger message. 



[Edited by Moderator]

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Feb 24, 2025 10:44 AM in response to Jeff Donald

Jeff Donald wrote:

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 radio in an iPhone is completely different than the FM radio in your car. For one thing, the iPhone can transmit. So there's that. For another, you can (in theory at least) roll up your windows and listen to the radio in private. No one will ever know what station you are listening to.


The radio connections made by your iPhone are completely different. Every packet of data is tracked from point A to point B, both receiving and transmitting. Your location is tracked too. Someone always knows what data you are sending and what data you are receiving. So the key question here is "who knows"?


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.

What's this obsession with T-Mobile all about anyway? Has no one ever heard of cellular roaming? Unless someone configures their phone in a very specific way, they really have no choice about which cellular data providers their phone is going to communicate with. It's all based on peering agreements, your data plan, distance from towers, over-subscriptions, etc.


Granted, I doubt many people are going to be roaming on T-Mobile. That was always my service of choice when I lived in the US. And boy was it bad. I just didn't need to make a lot of phone calls so I didn't want to pay AT&T prices. But it was annoying to be constantly surrounded by annoying people talking loudly on their cell phones when I could never make a call on my T-Mobile. 😄


If you don’t want Starlink, don’t subscribe to T-Mobile.

What if someone is already 3 months into a 4 year contract? If they're locked into T-Mobile, but want a new phone, and don't want any Starlink connection, then they might need to go Android shopping.

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Blocking Starlink access in iOS 18.3

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