Apple has gradually ramped up the capabilities of its iPhone satellite communications services, but a new report suggests that the company may need to switch supplier in order to boost capacity.
The company currently partners with Globalstar for all of its satellite comms services, but two SpaceX developments mean that Apple might switch to Starlink for future services …
Apple satellite services
Apple first added satellite messaging to the iPhone 14 back in 2022. This was initially limited to contacting emergency services while outside cellular coverage areas. It was later extended to offer roadside assistance cover for mechanical problems and messaging with family and friends too.
The company initially said that it would be free for the first two years only, with unspecified pricing beyond that. However, I suggested in 2023 that it would likely keep the Emergency SOS via Satellite service free forever, and recent extensions do appear to back this view.
Depending on which iPhone model you own, the service is currently set to remain free through September 2026 to September 2028.
Two SpaceX developments
Satellite services for iPhone are currently provided through Globalstar. Elon Musk was said to have tried to persuade Apple to switch to SpaceLink’s Starlink service, but so far without success. However, a new report suggests that this may be set to change.
Top comment by David
Starlink has essentially no competitors at this point, their service is far superior then any other satellite provider it isnt even close. Anyone objecting to this is just a hater. Just look at TMobiles setup "it just works" you dont need to sit there like a clown tracking down a satellite manually.
Imagine being so foolish that you would rather deal with a poor network with extremely weak connection and capability and have to stand there acting like an antenna just to 'stick it musk'. Go outside people and live your life. Im not a musk fan, I will never own a tesla, but starlink is a great product and extremely impressive and almost required outside of major cities/suburbs.
First, notes Arstechnica, SpaceX struck a $17 billion deal to buy spectrum from EchoStar.
Pending regulatory approval, SpaceX will acquire EchoStar’s AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses, giving Musk’s space company the rights to 50 MHz of spectrum in the 1.9 and lower 2 GHz spectrum bands. SpaceX plans to acquire EchoStar’s rights to the spectrum in the US and globally. This “spectrum will allow SpaceX to provide phone, text, and broadband services from space to mobile users throughout the United States and around the world.”
Second, SpaceX is planning to massively increase the number of Starlink satellites from around 650 today to as many as 15,000.
SpaceX also filed with the FCC for approval of a “new system of up to 15,000 satellites [that] will provide ubiquitous connectivity to ordinary mobile handsets and a range of other devices and user terminals.”
Starlink has deployed about 650 Direct to Cell (D2C) satellites under its existing authorizations, but the new satellites will be more capable and more numerous.
This may encourage Apple to switch
T-Mobile uses Starlink for its T-Satellite service, which is currently adding support for a growing number of apps. The report suggests Apple may seek to follow suit in order to boost its own capacity and app support.
Starlink may use its increased capacity to “highly encourage Apple to sign a deal,” telecom analyst Philip Burnett told Ars. Globalstar’s potential capacity is constrained because it “has a lot fewer satellites than SpaceX does, and they also have less spectrum,” he said. Buying the EchoStar spectrum will “give SpaceX more leverage in their negotiation with Apple.”
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