Apple believed to be on a gradual journey that began with Emergency SOS via satellite on the iPhone 14 in 2022 and will be fully advanced at some point 5G access via satellite, bypassing the ground-based antenna altogether.
It has previously been suggested that iPhone 18 Pro can take an important step in this direction with support for 5G over satellite links. A new report today lends weight to this idea…
History so far
The last four generations of iPhone have support for Emergency SOS via the Satellite feature, which provides limited data access when out of range of cellular networks.
Originally launched as a tool for messaging emergency services, it has gradually expanded to include roadside assistance and messaging family and friends. However, it’s still a slow and limited service that simply aims to provide a safety net while you’re in remote areas.
There was many suggestions that Apple’s long-term goal is to eventually bypass land-based cellular networks and move to satellite connection for 5G mobile communications.
iPhone 18 Pro 5G satellite communications
Some of the reports have suggested that the iPhone 18 Pro will be the first model to receive the necessary hardware to provide 5G connectivity directly from satellites.
Weibo user Digital Fixed Focusa leaker with a good track record says today that this capability will be part of Apple’s C2 radio chip expected to debut in the iPhone 18 Pro.
This year, direct Internet access via low-Earth orbit satellites to smartphones is a highlight, and Apple’s C2 baseband this year will support NR-NTN.
NR-NTN refers to the new Non-Terrestrial Radio Networks, which integrate 5G capabilities into the satellite link.
9to5Mac’s Take
Now there seems to be growing evidence that Apple is gradually moving in this direction, and that the capability could be introduced for the first time in this year’s iPhone 18 Pro models.
However, we should not get too excited. While the long-term dream may be high-speed 5G (and beyond) mobile data via satellite anywhere in the world, completely bypassing legacy carriers, that’s still a long way off. Not only does it require a massive expansion of the number of compatible satellites, but it also presents Apple with some complicated decisions regarding relationships with carrier partners.
Still, if the reports are correct, this will be a good step in the right direction, and it will be interesting to see what Apple chooses to do with it this year. At a minimum, we can expect some sort of expansion in the satellite services offered through the iPhone.
FTC: We use automatic affiliate links to earn income. More.
