Blocking Starlink access in iOS 18.3

There is NO connection to StarLink (or any other satellite service) in Sequoia

It’s actually a hardware feature that is on androids as well. This update only adds the software support, and can be disabled. Not sure how you’re going to get rid of it without ripping out your cells modem. I suspect you actually like cell service, So you either live with it being in your pocket or you get rid of your iPhone or android. I would recommend you simply disable it.

How to disable Starlink satellite support on iPhone

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone after updating to iOS 18.3.
2. Visit Cellular > T-Mobile (or other carriers if added in the future)
3. Toggle off satellite support.

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!

As an AT&T user, you don't have access to Starlink. Had you read any of the rest of the thread, you'd know that.

So by not updating you're preventing a completely hypothetical occurrence but not protecting yourself from the 29 real security threats iOS 18.3 protects from. That is not the risk calculation I would make.

lobsterghost1 wrote:

Booboo1111 wrote:

I refuse to update and just ordered my first Chinese phone. I trust them with my data more than Elonia and Google, and other USA tech oligarchs.

OK. No one here really cares what you use as your cell phone. But you have most assuredly made a decision based on MISINFORMATION - MYTH and FEAR. Read this --> The Starlink Myth - Apple Community

Excellent job on that User Tip lobsterghost1!

Draxton1974 wrote:

I just updated to the latest iOS without knowing about the connection to Starlink. If this is true I’m smashing my iPhone and getting an Android instead for better privacy.

Of course, Android offered it first. Beside, if you read through the posts you would know that you need to be on T-Mobile, and opt-in to the T-Mobile satellite beta. If neither is true this has no bearing on you.

Choices_Matter wrote:

I think folks letting Apple know they don’t want this is the right thing to do - especially if they don’t have T-Mobile. Why not make it downloadable for T-Mobile customers instead of pushing it to everyone without disclosing ?

Nothing is pushed out or installed on your device.

jagaird233 wrote:

I don't want my iPhone connected to Musk and anything he is connected to. Will not update. Apple better realign it's priorities.

So you clearly haven't read past the first post. How long have you been with T-Mobile? You should be complaining to them if you are a T-Mobile customer. And if you're not with T-Mobile you are really making a knee jerk reaction to an issue you won't even have. But you will leave yourself vulnerable to nearly 30 exploits Apple protected with 18.3.

Instead of Apple realigning anything, maybe you should educate yourself better.

I find this to be very misleading. It’s T-Mobile and Apple, working together. Apple announced with the most recent iPhone that they would be bringing a satellite feature to their iPhones “in future updates”. T-Mobile has partnered with Apple to beta test the carrier provided option. Apple has already implemented sat access for iphone 14 and later phones. Currently Apple’s sat option is powered by Globalstar. But there is a whole section dedicated to “carrier provided satellite features” on apple support. It makes the most since that Verizon and T-Mobile would follow suit and offer the Sat option, and Starlink is a major powerhouse in that field. But, if Verizon and AT&T see that there’s a major pushback, there is a chance they may not partner with Starlink to avoid alienating customers. There is also a chance that T-Mobile may decide to roll back the feature if enough people refuse it. Based upon what I found in Apple Support though, its very likely Starlink will partner with carriers across the board. And Apple is responsible for allowing T-mobile to partner with Starlink, because they have allowed the software to be implemented on the phone. This isnt an app people download with permissions, although I wish it was. I don’t believe that we can say with any certainty that this isn’t going to happen with other carriers.

Again, please do some reading before you post this utter nonsense.

They aren't pushing this to everyone, you have to sign up to the beta program from T-Mobile to be able to use it.

"I get that you’re frustrated but the simple fact is people like having a choice and being informed"

The only thing I'm frustrated with is your lack of knowledge but you keep posting like you know what you're talking about. You don't.

Evidently not enough or you’d know AT&T owns part of AST SpaceMobile and they launched 5 satellites last fall. Verizon uses Inmarsat. They also don’t have the N51 band required for Starlink.

They have no reason to partner with Starlink when they already have strategic partnerships and have invested 100’s of millions and are part owners of other services.

Bird-is-word wrote:

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety” - Ben Franklin

Leon didn’t invent satellite technology or SAT phones. There are better choices out there that Apple can pick, and using fear and putting families up against our freedom to choose just to bully us into submission is gross.

Read the thread, because if you do, you'll see Apple DIDN'T partner with Starlink. T-Mobile did.

I checked Apple’s description of the update. It doesn’t list anything about Starlink. It only states security updates and bug fixes. Having said that we do need an option to block tracking if it’s in this particular update. We can’t go on for too long without installing updates on our iPhones because of this.

That’s not NASA mission. They don’t have a single satellite in space for consumer telecommunications. It could be decades before it’s operational. Starlink already has over 400 operational satellites in orbit.

But it doesn’t sound like you’ve read much on this. This doesn’t affect you or your iPhone unless you’re a T-Mobile subscriber.

Are you a T-Mobile subscriber?

You’re telling people not to install Apple’s security updates?

Not good advice. You may be doing more harm than good.

You’re very likely helping bad guys and hurting good people!

What is the source of your claim?

It’s been debunked in multiple messages here, already.

First few posts, let me get the hang of how it works. I’ll even parse it, however I’m used to commenting on articles with limited characters.

Hence, madness occurs as you figure out how to get your point across and periods, spaces, and blank lines use characters.

See, happy now? I knew nothing of this. Someone came up with the idea years ago and has worked to incorporate it into I’m guessing the cellular modem.

I researched it. At first T-Mobile was going to keep it to themselves but decided that Verizon was claiming it could do the same thing, therefore, the CEO of T-Mobile, decided to allow the service to come to other cell carriers for a higher fee. It’s in android, it’s an iPhones, and it could save your life.

However, if your carrier decides to team up with T-Mobile, you will then get the option to disable satellite service just the same as you can turn off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, roaming, now satellite service too.

This is Political blowback against a man who gave Starlink for free to Ukrainians so they had a fighting chance against Russia in the first months of the war, uncompensated and free, until if memory serves me right, the US government now pays for Ukraine to use it.

Because Apple added support in iOS 18.3, doesn’t mean you get the service. In fact, you’ll have to pay for the service and if all the paranoid people out there who think Elon has time to read their data, such as, “help I’m stranded on a desert Island!“, then you just disable it if your carrier offers it.

QUALCOMM doesn’t spy on your data, when you log into the bank it’s over an encrypted link, and for all I know, this service may be over an encrypted link. Besides, SMS hasn’t had encryption ever. Anyone sending a green message to an android user, should now be aware that message can be read by the cell phone company, or intercepted by the police? Should you be under investigation. Even a bad guy can do it.

This is much about ado. Hope that clears things up a bit, in the future things will be more legible.

Thank you for your input!