Satellite Connected Mobile Handsets

There is plenty of media speculation that a new generation of smartphones coming to market will have satellite connectivity. With news of the iPhone 14 release including Globalstar connectivity to power its satellite-based Emergency SOS feature. The satellite Emergency SOS function is slated to arrive in November only for iPhone 14 users in the US and Canada. But it's not surprising that Apple has larger ambitions for satellite connectivity down the line. According to new sources, Apple will contribute 95% of the funding needed to help Globalstar to launch new satellites. In return, Globalstar plans on allocating “85% of its current and future network capacity to support” Apple’s services.

It’s also possible SpaceX could try to expand the mobile Starlink service to Apple iPhones, since both the company and Globalstar plan on tapping the same 2.4GHz spectrum. (A 2017 presentation from Globalstar shows the company also uses the 1.6GHz band for uploading purposes through its satellite phones.)

‍How does satellite connectivity work on phones right now?
‍Direct-to-satellite phones require specialist devices. They are narrow-band, supporting voice, SMS and - in some cases - low-speed data. None are mobile broadband capable. In the case of the Iphone14, the handset interface guides you to point the device in the right direction until the satellite connection is established. Apple notes that this feature only works outdoors with “a clear view of the sky.” Once your iPhone is connected to the satellite, you can call an emergency service when there’s no cellular signal coverage from your carrier. Satellite connectivity can also be used to share your location with friends and family via Find My.

Since it takes some time to establish the connection with the satellites, iPhone will ask users a few questions while the device is searching for signal. This includes questions such as “What’s the emergency?,” “Who needs help?,” and “Is anyone injured?” Then, iPhone automatically sends a text message with all these details to a local relay station.

‍What are the restrictions to the use of satellite connectivity in phones?
‍Specialist satellite phones typically use satellite spectrum on frequencies that are coordinated either globally or over large parts of the Earth. The disadvantage is the high hardware cost. If satellites were to communicate with existing mobile phones, in spectrum allocated for mobile phone services, a whole new regulatory and licensing regime would be required country by country (or even more locally).

‍Can LEO networks like OneWeb ease the process of satellite connectivity in phones?
‍LEO networks can certainly help to address the latency question, so consumers experience services very much as they would from a terrestrial network. However, LEO doesn’t automatically address the many regulatory and spectrum usage hurdles. Nor does LEO suddenly change voice/text services into broadband ones.

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