This isn't for an upcoming iPhone model, but more of a future indication. COSPAS-SARSAT return link is a feature undergoing testing today.
COSPAS SARSAT basically means Search And Rescue Satellite in both Russian and English. It's the international space-based search and rescue system. Today some Global positioning satellites (including GPS) are part of this programme as MEOSAR (Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue), looking down if they see a suitable digital beacon signal they will remember and, when able to see a ground station, relay their estimate of the beacon position and the beacon message (which may include a truncated GPS position from the beacon). The beacon might be a relatively bulky component on a ship, a handheld but still cumbersome personal beacon, or even an oversize wristwatch from Breitling, the Breitling Emergency isn't exactly a dainty piece of wrist jewellery, but it's not bigger than an iPhone.
Today that's a one way system, you activate your beacon and rescuers know which beacon it was, and where you are, and hopefully they come rescue you.
But return link is an upgrade so that beacons can receive a message back in the other direction e.g. "We see you" (which at least means you know the beacon worked) or maybe some day "We see you. Rescue team on foot to you. Stay nearby" which further improves morale. We know morale is very important in serious accidents. GPS birds are equipped to transmit of course, that's the whole purpose of them, so this is a relatively reasonable upgrade for them.
Thus today you can't get anywhere close to "Internet access" via this, it's even less practical than IP Over Avian Carrier. But in the future it's less of a stretch than you might imagine that a phone-sized device could in an emergency far from civilisation get some basic network access to find you assistance.
