[nradov]

No that's not how it works. Apple can push any iPhone firmware updates they want to without carrier approval.

[Kurtz79]

You are right in the case of Apple, but I don't think it is the normal process.

Although my experience in this matter is limited, this is was I was able to find:

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-it-that-Apple-can-push-out-upda...