SMS in white zones: Orange launches its first satellite messaging offer

€5 per month: here is what the option offered by Orange will cost and which will allow its subscribers to access an SMS service… by satellite. Its launch has just been announced by the French operator, on the occasion of its OpenTech event, and takes the name, to say the least transparent, of Satellite Message.

Concretely, the offer currently seems quite limited. This is to allow lovers of hiking and other sea outings to keep in touch with their loved ones when they are in areas not covered by the traditional mobile network. This is not a service allowing you to send and receive all types of messages, Orange mentioning “a dedicated SMS interface” ; if Orange does not yet detail the exact functioning of its service, we imagine some limitations, particularly in terms of the number of characters supported. The operator does not, however, reserve this service for emergency messages, since it mentions its interest in the context of tourism “in mountainous, coastal or rural areas”especially since it is designed to work in France and in 36 countries, mainly in Europe.

A partnership with Skylo and some affected smartphones

Satellite Message is based on Direct to Device technology (equivalent to Starlink’s Direct to Cell option), which allows satellites to operate as mobile phone relay antennas. Orange did not partner, to do this, with the European Eutelsat, but retained the American Skylo, which defines itself as a “non-terrestrial network operator”. It is also him who we find at work behind the satellite messaging function offered by the recent connected watch Garmin Fenix ​​8 Pro. In terms of compatible devices, since it is not currently a question of offering the service on all types of smartphones, only devices from the ranges Pixel 9 And Pixel 10 from Google are eligible. THE Skylo website also mentioning the compatibility of Galaxy S25 series (S25, S25+, S25 Ultra and S25 Edge) from Samsung, as well as Galaxy Z Fold 7 And Galaxy Z Flip 7 from South Korea, we imagine that these devices are those that Orange is considering when it talks about the further enrichment of its offer “in terms of services but also terminals”.

The option Satellite Message Orange remains a premium service. It will be available from December 11, 2025, and reserved for holders of a 5G or 5G+ subscription from Orange, while Sosh customers are not mentioned. Finally, let us point out that Orange, which welcomes it, is the first French operator to offer such an option. It will be free for six months from subscription.