Calling via satellite is nothing new. The main problem is that it is very expensive and requires special devices that look like old-fashioned Nokia's or the old car phones. This can be done in a smarter way, for example with a dual-mode iPhone that can automatically switch between the GSM masts and the satellite connection.
- What good is satellite communication?
- This is how today's satellite telephony works
- How good is LEO satellites?
- What is Globalstar?
- How can Apple improve satellite communications?
What good is satellite communications?
In the densely populated Netherlands and Belgium the news of satellite communications will not have been received with huge cheers. We hardly know any remote areas without GSM masts. Of course there are places with poorer coverage, but it cannot be compared to America, Africa or Australia. where entire regions are virtually cut off from the outside world. A satellite phone can make sense in those areas.
In the Benelux, a satellite telephone is only interesting for a relatively small target group: think of shipping and fishing, sea sailors and people who like to visit remote islands or who love cruise holidays. At sea you can still reach up to about 10 kilometers outside the coast via the normal transmission towers. Beyond that, you have to rely on the maritime network and satellites.
This is how current satellite telephony works
Satellite telephony has been around for a long time. If you're on a cruise ship or ferry to Scandinavia or Great Britain; you can often use the maritime network. With this you can still make calls and use the internet in the middle of the sea. On the deck is a transmission tower with satellite connection, which functions as a normal GSM tower. You can use it with a normal smartphone, but it is very expensive. In 2019, the news came that a family had incurred €12,000 by playing a few videos. You will, however, be warned: as soon as you have switched to the cruise ship's mobile network, you will see the name of another provider, for example ‘Telenor’. You will also receive a text message to let you know that you are on a satellite network and the cost is much higher. The maritime network falls in the most expensive zone with providers. You pay around €2.50 to €5 per minute to call.
In addition to Globalstar and Starlink, Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya also offer satellite communications.
What good is LEO satellites?
You cannot make a satellite connection with current telephones. You need a special cell tower for it (like you see on cruise ships) or you need to install a satellite dish. The latter is possible, for example, with Starlink from SpaceX, where you place your own dish. Starlink is an example of a new type of provider. They use so-called LEO satellites (Low Earth Orbit). These are networks made up of thousands of small, inexpensive satellites located closer to the Earth's surface. This allows for later latency (less lag) and faster speeds. It takes less energy to place a satellite in LEO and less powerful amplifiers are needed. LEO is therefore used for various communication applications, such as the Iridium telephone system.
We are talking about an altitude of up to 2,000 km above the Earth's surface, about a third of the Earth's radius. All manned space stations also fly around LEO. Apollo to the Moon was organized between 1968 and 1972, but there have been no human space travelers outside of LEO since then. Because there are so many objects flying around at this height, they must be watched closely to avoid collisions.
What is Globalstar?
The Qualcomm X60 baseband chip that Apple is rumored to use in the iPhone 13 probably only supports the Globalstar satellite system. This is the partner Qualcomm is already working with.
Globalstar coverage .
Globalstar has been active worldwide since 1999 with a LEO satellite system for digital communication. They have 48 satellites orbiting the Earth in eight different orbits at an altitude of 1414 meters. Globalset can thus cover about 80% of the Earth's surface. When you call, several satellites receive the call. With ‘path diversity’ prevents the call from dropping out: if you move out of range of one satellite, another satellite automatically takes over the call. The satellites are quite simple and consist of an antenna, two solar panels and a magnetism meter. The technology and software are largely located on Earth, so that repairs, bug fixes and updates can take place quickly.
Globalstar uses dual-mode devices, which allow you to switch between GSM masts and satellite connections. If no GSM connection is possible, the device automatically switches to satellite. The devices look and work like a normal mobile phone, although they often have a somewhat dated appearance.
The most modern Globalstar phone, the GSP
How can Apple improve satellite communications?
Whether you, as a European, need a satellite connection on your iPhone, remains to be seen. It leads to extra costs for a feature that you may never use. Still, Apple can improve on the current situation. First, you can establish a satellite connection with a normal looking device. You don't have to rent or buy a special satellite phone if you go backpacking in a deserted region. To give you an impression, a satellite phone costs between €500 and €1500. You can also rent it for approx. €25 per day or €250 per month. In terms of costs, you should count on 250 minutes of calls per month for €100.
If it is already standard in your iPhone, that is of course a plus, but you should not imagine too much of it. Furthermore, you should not imagine too much of it. It regularly happens that new functions are not rolled out or are rolled out much later in the Benelux. If the rollout is done in collaboration with your provider, it can take much longer before the Netherlands and Belgiumë turn, as has been shown with the eSIM and the 4G Apple Watch.
And the fact that satellite communication is present on the Qualcomm baseband chip does not mean that Apple will also activate it. There are more potential functions on the baseband chip, which Apple does not use.
Of course we fervently hope that Apple will do it. Because if you ever find yourself in a life-threatening emergency during a holiday, you can call for help almost anywhere in the world and it doesn't matter whether the call costs ten or a hundred euros. We are already looking forward to the first feel-good stories about people who have been rescued from dire situations thanks to the iPhone.