What is direct-to-mobile?
You may know the iPhone's satellite SOS: in an emergency, off the grid, the phone can send a distress message via satellite. Direct-to-mobile is the same idea, but far more capable: no need to point the phone at the sky, and it is no longer only emergencies that get through — text messages and a limited number of apps, including PZO, work over satellite.
Not to be confused with a satellite beacon (SPOT, ZOLEO — a dedicated device to buy and subscribe) or a Starlink antenna (equipment to install, which broadcasts Wi-Fi). With direct-to-mobile, your phone itself talks to the satellites.
How does it work?
Low-earth-orbit satellites act as cell towers placed in the sky. When your phone loses ground coverage, it looks for the satellite on its own, with nothing to do — but it needs to see a patch of sky: under trees or in a dip, the link can take several minutes to come back.
Who offers it in Canada today?
Rogers is the first and currently the only carrier in Canada offering direct-to-mobile satellite connectivity, through the Rogers Satellite option: included with new Rogers 5G+ plans; otherwise optional, even if your carrier is not Rogers, at the current Rogers rate: currently $15 CAD/month ($10 CAD/month for the first 12 months for existing Rogers customers). The option includes text messaging and access to compatible apps — their data draws from your Rogers plan (500 MB with the satellite-only plan).
Worth noting: availability depends on your device, its operating system and your plan, and the service is evolving. Check directly with Rogers before committing. Regular phone calls do not yet go over satellite; messaging apps such as Messenger or WhatsApp work for messages and audio/video calls.
What you need to benefit from it
- A phone that carries apps over satellite — iPhone 13 (released in 2021) or newer, except the iPhone SE. On Android: Galaxy S25 (released in 2025) or newer, Pixel 9 (released in 2024) or newer, except the Pixel “a” models. A phone that is “compatible” for texting does not necessarily carry apps. Check your device with Rogers.
- The Rogers Satellite option activated — Rogers customers: add it to your plan (or it is already included); other carriers: an unlocked phone and a Rogers eSIM to activate once (Rogers activation guide). Then restart the phone, as Rogers asks.
- That's it. No antenna, no box, no dedicated device to buy.
Direct-to-mobile or a Starlink antenna?
These are the two ways to get satellite connectivity with PZO. Direct-to-mobile goes through the phone itself; a Starlink antenna installed on the vehicle broadcasts Wi-Fi (which also reopens the tablet option). The table sums up the differences:
| 📱 Rogers satellite | 🛰️ Starlink antenna | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | None — via the phone | An antenna (you may already have one) |
| Cost (before tax) | Free with new 5G+ plans · otherwise $10–15 CAD/mo | Plan from $75 CAD/mo + antenna purchase |
| Devices | Compatible phone | Phone and tablet |
| Latency | Higher than cellular — no impact on PZO tracking | Low, per Starlink — not measured by PZO |
| Who it's for | The majority — cheapest, no upfront cost | Those who already have one |
What it changes in the forest (and what it doesn't)
What it changes: beyond cellular coverage, your teams become visible again every time the phone catches the satellite, with the phone they already carry, if it is compatible. PZO runs on the Rogers satellite connection (proven in the field) — vehicle tracking, proximity alerts, reports — for as long as the link holds.
- It is not a guaranteed SOS button: for operations in extremely isolated areas with no coverage at all, a dedicated satellite beacon remains a reasonable complement.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my phone compatible?
- The Rogers checker separates phones that get satellite for texting from those that also carry apps. For PZO, apps are what count: iPhone 13 (released in 2021) or newer, except the iPhone SE. On Android: Galaxy S25 (released in 2025) or newer, Pixel 9 (released in 2024) or newer, except the Pixel “a” models. The list evolves with manufacturer updates: before committing, check your model with the Rogers device checker.
- How much does it cost?
- The Rogers Satellite option is included with new Rogers 5G+ plans; otherwise it is optional, even if your carrier is not Rogers, at the current Rogers rate: currently $15 CAD/month ($10 CAD/month for the first 12 months for existing Rogers customers). No hardware to buy. Pricing is set by Rogers and may change — check the official option page.
- Does it work everywhere?
- According to Rogers, the satellite service covers Canada south of the 58th parallel (excluding some regions), in most open-sky areas. One distinction matters: coverage (the satellite is overhead) is not reception (your phone can see the sky). Under dense canopy or deep in a valley, the link comes and goes: it works in windows, separated by outages of a few minutes. With each window, the vehicle becomes visible again in PZO.