Apple’s latest iOS update has made some massive upgrades to satellite connectivity for iPhones. iOS 18 allows users to send and receive messages via satellite when WiFi or cellular service is unavailable.
Apple’s latest iOS update has expanded satellite connectivity for iPhones and extended its reach to 16 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and several European nations. However, this feature is yet to be rolled out in India due to compliance issues with local satellite connectivity rules.
The future looks promising despite the absence of satellite communication (satcom) services in India. Companies like Eutelsat OneWeb and the Jio-SES partnership have been granted licenses for global mobile personal communication via satellite services (GMPCS), hinting at the potential for satellite connectivity in the country.
Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is also working to obtain a license pending regulatory approval.
Obtaining licenses for satellite communication is a multi-step process. Companies must secure satellite spectrum allocation and navigate the administrative allocation process outlined in the Telecommunications Act. While the act provides a framework, the specific rules for this mechanism are still being finalized.
The satellite connectivity feature prompts users to connect directly to the nearest overhead satellite from the Messages app. It allows them to send text and emojis and tap back messages via iMessage and SMS.
Apple previously partnered with Louisiana-based Globalstar to launch satellite connectivity in 2022, initially available from iPhone 14 models onward.
This update significantly enhances satellite connectivity accessibility, integrates capability within the device, and eliminates the need for separate satellite terminals. This advancement in direct-to-cell satellite connectivity marks a significant development in telecommunications. While currently complementing terrestrial networks, experts anticipate satellite communication increasingly competing with traditional networks, offering direct mobile customer connectivity.
Companies like Starlink and AST SpaceMobile plan to offer direct satellite connectivity on mobile phones. AST SpaceMobile’s partnership with Verizon to provide direct-to-cell connectivity in the US underscores satellite communication technologies’ expanding potential and reach.
