Apple is strengthening its partnership with GlobalStar, a leading satellite connectivity provider, by acquiring a 20% stake in the company worth $400 million. As part of the deal, Apple will also prepay $1.1 billion to GlobalStar to enhance its satellite infrastructure, enabling improved emergency features and global connectivity for iPhone users.

The investment is a significant move by Apple to expand its satellite services, which currently allow iPhone users to send emergency texts, iMessage reactions, and more in areas with no cell signal. The deal will see GlobalStar develop a new satellite constellation, expanded ground infrastructure, and increased global mobile satellite services licensing.

The partnership is crucial for Apple's Emergency SOS feature, launched on the iPhone 14 in 2022, which enables off-grid users to send and receive texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS. While Apple has offered the service for free since its launch, the company plans to charge users for satellite connectivity in the future. For now, iPhone 14 owners can enjoy the service for free until at least November 2025.