How to be 100% sure Starlink can't be used with my iOS devices

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.

norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:

Then why does it require an iOS 18.3 update? Something is being installed. If it needs to go via a T-mobile network to work, fine..I don't have to worry, but then what's the point?

Every time you update your phone, your carrier settings get updated. This is information provided by the carriers to Apple that affects how your phone connects to the network. One of the most noticeable examples is the fact that if you're a Verizon customer, you don't have the ability to enable/disable things like Call Waiting or Call Forwarding using switches on the phone.

That means, if you're a TMobile customer, when you update to iOS 18.3, you get certain options installed that allow you to connect to TMobile's beta testing of Starlink. If you don't sign up for the beta test, you don't get it.

If you're not a TMobile customer, you don't even have the option to use Starlink. You will use whatever satellite service your carrier uses.

These are confusing times. The worst thing you can do is panic.

norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:

Thank you for this detailed answer. So the enabling is controlled by Apple depending on agreements with the carrier. And since starlink acts as a base station if you don’t have coverage (as they say on the website), starlink could choose not to verify a subscription. So the trust here is basically on Apple OTA alone, right? Or is there a SIM card check before connecting also?

No.

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.

norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:

Thank you for this detailed answer. So the enabling is controlled by Apple depending on agreements with the carrier. And since starlink acts as a base station if you don’t have coverage (as they say on the website), starlink could choose not to verify a subscription. So the trust here is basically on Apple OTA alone, right? Or is there a SIM card check before connecting also?

Huh? Any connection with Starlink is entirely dependent on your TMobile subscription. Certain iPhones are capable of connecting to satellite networks. Which one depends on the carrier. TMobile is beta testing Starlink.

If you don't have TMobile, you don't have access to Starlink.

If you have TMobile and you don't sign up for the beta, you don't have access to Starlink.

Who is your carrier?

norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:

When you live close to the russian border it’s absolutely not hypothetical. And if that “border” suddenly becomes the sky, it’s problematic. But if I, as a user, can fully choose and control it _from my phone_, go nuts

It's hypothetical if your carrier doesn't have an agreement with Starlink. It's hypothetical if your carrier has an agreement with Starlink and you haven't opted in. People have been telling you this since your first post.

Here is the current list of carriers (note NOT Apple) that Starlink is partnered with :

T-Mobile — USA

KDDI — Japan

OPTUS — Australia

One BZ — New Zealand

Salt — Switzerland

Entel — Chili and Peru

Rodgers — Canada

Don't have service with T-Mobile or sign in to be a beta tester for Starlink, again with T-Mobile and you'll have nothing to worry about. It's that simple. Android has been offering this with T-Mobile users for some time. All Apple did was permit it's users who are T-Mobile customers to have the same service, IF they want it.

You can certainly get a new phone from someone else. But if the Starlink connection is so troubling to you, it can't be a Samsung or Google phone either.

Nothing will be implemented “in secret” onto your iPhone. The only way you could have Starlink satellite connection on your iPhone is if:

• You are a T-Mobile customer
• You signed up for the beta testing

Otherwise, you do not have it and there is nothing to worry about.

Starlink has partnered with a small group of select cellular carriers worldwide. Here’s the list,

T-Mobile — USA

KDDI — Japan

OPTUS — Australia

One BZ — New Zealand

Salt — Switzerland

Entel — Chili and Peru

Rodgers — Canada

Now what country are you in and who’s your carrier? If it’s not one of the above then what is your point?

Nothing is affecting you or your iPhone. The vast majority of the major carriers have already partnered with other satellite services. Stop being so morally outraged over something that doesn’t affect you.

No, cellular carriers write much of the software and firmware required for their services. Starlink cannot just install software and firmware on your device. If you believe so, you’re wasting your time here. You should be writing science fiction novels.

norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:

I'm very worried about the Starlink support that Apple implemented "in secret" on iOS devices and have blocked all new updates.

Will there be a way to 100% opt out of Starlink in the future or do I need to get a new phone? I don't want Elon Putin Musk having the slightest theoretical opportunity of accessing my device

You can be 100% sure if YOU choose not t use it. It is NOT forced upon you. Your iPhone will not establish a satellite connection on its own without you letting it. YOU the user have to make that choice. The satellite owner, no matter who, does not have access to your connections, period.

As for getting new phone, any phone you buy, Apple or Android, will eventually have this capability, You can’t avoid it by a getting different phone. Well, you could buy a prepaid burner phone for $15 but you will be able to make phone calls and that’s about it.

norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:

But if the goal with the Starlink support is to be able to use it when there's no mobile network coverage, how can I be sure it can't connect to Starlink even though my carrier/operator doesn't support it?

If your carrier doesn't have a connection to Starlink, then your phone simply CANNOT connect to Starlink. Apple isn't using Starlink. AT&T and Verizon aren't using Starlink. T-Mobile IS using Starlink.

norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:

But how is it actived on the phone? If it's only a setting, I'm still worried, as it doesn't have to go through the mobile network, but can connect directly to starlink

It's activated on your phone as we keep telling you IF and ONLY IF you are a t-Mobile customer AND you opt-in to be a beta tester. You are worrying over something you clearly don't understand.

OK, I said I was leaving, but please explain how this could be rolled out to "unsuspecting carriers" at all? Do you honestly believe all of the sudden, Starlink would take over satellite communications on a carrier network without the carrier aligning with or permitting the connection to happen? That is simply, utterly, completely implausible.

In another thread on this a respected member of the forum, compiled a list of the carriers around the world, who have partnered with Starlink. In no case would any of these carriers be unsuspecting of their partnership with Starlink.

But here you go:

Starlink has partnered with a small group of select cellular carriers worldwide. Here’s the list.

T-Mobile — USA

KDDI — Japan

OPTUS — Australia

One BZ — New Zealand

Salt — Switzerland

Entel — Chili and Peru

Rodgers — Canada

Are you a T-Mobile customer? If no, there is NOTHING to disable. Period. End of story.

norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:

So it's technically just an OTA setting on the mobile phone from the carrier, and you have to have a subscription, but what's the actual technical barrier? I want to be able to disable it completely. like uninstall all support.

What is there to uninstall or disable if it was never there to begin with?

norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:

I understand that. But let’s say I’m a T-Mobile subscriber with beta and everything.

Are you a TMobile customer? It's a yes/no question. If the answer is no, you have nothing to worry about.

No one here can speak to what may or may not happen in the future.

And I’m somewhere in the desert without coverage. Where is the check performed if I have a subscription before connecting? If it’s on the SIM card, or eSIM, at least there’s an extra security apart from just some setting

If you are lost in the desert and likely to die if you don't get help, would you refuse to access that help if it happened to be routed through a company owned by Musk? That's also a yes/no question.