Orange announced the launch of “Satellite Message”, an offer that allows its customers in Metropolitan France to send and receive SMS messages as well as their location via satellite in France and in 36* countries to date, when mobile or Wi-Fi coverage is unavailable.
Available from December 11, 2025 for the general public and during 2026 for business and enterprise customers, this service consolidates Orange’s leading position in networks and in France, offering the most comprehensive and high-performing range of connectivity on the market.
It also illustrates the Group’s commitment to pursuing its strategy of offering a complete portfolio of mobile, terrestrial, satellite, and submarine connectivity solutions to all its customers, leveraging its innovation and technological diversification capabilities.
Based on a partnership with Skylo, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) operator, this offer is available to Orange 5G and 5G+ customers, initially and exclusively, who own a smartphone from the Google Pixel 9 or 10 range. Subsequently, “Satellite Message” will be enriched in terms of services but also terminals.
This service relies on “Direct to Device” technology, which allows smartphones to communicate directly with a satellite. The experience is simple: just connect to the satellite via the dedicated SMS interface and then compose your message. The satellite then takes over to ensure the sending and receiving of the SMS via the Orange mobile core network.
It ensures reliable and simple continuity of SMS communication and is perfectly suited to certain uses or sectors of activity such as:
-
For adventurers and outdoor sports enthusiasts : staying connected with loved ones, in complete peace of mind, during treks, trail runs, mountain or sea outings. As well as for all those who live or travel in areas not covered in France or abroad -
Emergency response, logistics and transport services : for employees operating in isolated or poorly covered areas, or for teams responding after natural disasters when land networks are disrupted. -
Tourism : for all those who travel to mountainous, coastal or rural areas.
The “Satellite Message” offer will be available as a free option for the first 6 months and then at a price of €5/month.
Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange France
Satellite Message addresses the fundamental need to stay connected to those who matter, even when you’re far away. With this new offering, Orange provides a useful and simple innovation that strengthens service continuity for our customers, wherever they need it. Being the first operator in France to launch this option demonstrates our leadership in providing quality connectivity, everywhere and for everyone.
Michaël Trabbia, CEO of Orange Wholesale
Orange combines the best available technologies to meet our customers’ connectivity needs. Direct-to-Device technology is part of this approach, providing backup connectivity that is always available on smartphones even in the absence of mobile or Wi-Fi coverage. The launch of this technology in France with an SMS sending and receiving service is a major first step for the Group, paving the way for an enrichment of services available to Orange customers as technology evolves.