The SOS icon means it can't reach your cell network, but it can reach A network to make emergency calls. Well, to be clear in my quick search it's not clear that it means it can reach a network, more simply that your network isn't available - but you can still try to make an emergency call.
YouWantAPieceOfMe t1_itlb2ia wrote
Reply to comment by Jlsajdfowjqfpoiwfi in A train passenger saw a woman waving for help. It was a hiker who'd been missing. by guanaco55
On their website it still says "Available in November": https://www.apple.com/iphone-14/
The SOS icon means it can't reach your cell network, but it can reach A network to make emergency calls. Well, to be clear in my quick search it's not clear that it means it can reach a network, more simply that your network isn't available - but you can still try to make an emergency call.