Tasmanians stranded in mobile blackspots will soon have a new lifeline, with RACT announcing a partnership with Apple to deliver roadside assistance requests via satellite.
The service, launching on September 15, will allow iPhone 14 or later users to call for help even in the state’s most isolated regions where mobile coverage is non-existent.
RACT Head of Roadside Service Delivery Josh Dobie told Pulse the technology addresses a critical gap in Tasmania’s emergency services network.
“Tasmania has many rural and regional areas that don’t have phone reception. Previously, people in these areas couldn’t reach us. Now we can reach them,” Dobie said.
When vehicle troubles strike in remote locations, users will complete a brief questionnaire on their iPhone before connecting to a satellite to transmit their location and situation details directly to the National Assistance Centre.
“An agent can then contact RACT and dispatch a roadside service patrol,” Dobie said.
RACT Chief Mobility Officer Dean Harris described the partnership as transformative for road safety across the island.
“This innovation extends that safety net further than ever before. Australia is a vast country, and a breakdown in a remote area without mobile reception can be incredibly stressful,” Harris said.
The feature builds upon Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite capability, which launched across Australia in 2023, allowing iPhone users to contact emergency services from mobile blackspots.
The service will be included free for two years with activation of new iPhone 14 or later models running iOS 18.4 or later.
Both RACT members and non-members will be able to access the service, with non-members able to utilise it on a pay-per-use basis.
The technology requires open spaces with clear sky visibility, with performance potentially affected by obstructions such as dense forest canopy or buildings.
