KDDI CORPORATION
OKINAWA CELLULAR TELEPHONE COMPANY
KDDI and Okinawa Cellular today announced that their au Starlink Direct service which provide direct satellite-to-smartphone communication for customers roaming internationally in the U.S., now supports iPhone models. Following this update, a total of 22 iPhone models―including the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16, iPhone 17 lineups, and iPhone Air are now able to use satellite connectivity while roaming in the United States.
The United States has a vast land area, with regions where terrestrial mobile network coverage is limited or unavailable. In November 2025, KDDI partnered with T-Mobile to enable this capability. Since March 2026, KDDI has been providing seamless connectivity for international travelers in the United States through au Starlink Direct, which enables communication even in out-of-coverage areas as long as the sky is visible.
With the expansion of supported devices to include iPhone, a broader range of users can now stay connected with family and friends and access information such as maps and navigation while traveling within the United States.
■Supported Devices
- iPhone:
A total of 22 models, including:
iPhone 13 lineup/iPhone 14 lineup/iPhone 15 lineup/iPhone 16 lineup/iPhone 17 lineup/iPhone Air.
Please note that use on iPhone requires updating to the applicable operating system in advance.
For the full list of supported devices and details on how to use the service, please visit au official website (in Japanese only)Open in a new window.
(Reference)
■About au Starlink Direct
au Starlink Direct is a service that enables smartphones to connect directly to Starlink satellites, allowing communication even in areas without terrestrial mobile coverage, as long as the sky is visible. In addition to sending and receiving messages, sharing location information, receiving emergency earthquake alerts, and accessing AI consultation services, users can also use data communication via supported applications.
While au's population coverage in Japan exceeds 99.9%, the country's unique geography results in an area coverage rate of approximately 60%. au Starlink Direct extends connectivity to the remaining approximately 40% of Japan's land area, making communication possible even in mountainous regions and remote islands where network deployment is challenging. The service can be used not only by au customers but also by users on other mobile networks.
For more information on au Starlink Direct, please visit the following page.
- *Apple and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
The iPhone trademark is used under license from Aiphone Co., Ltd.
TM and © Apple Inc. All rights reserved.
- *The information contained in the articles is current at the time of publication.
Products, service fees, service content and specifications, contact information, and other details are subject to change without notice.
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