What if your smartphone could fetch you help even when you cannot communicate through any mobile network or the internet?
Satellite messengers are already available in the market that serves someone out of network in a deserted or remote area on Earth. If someone cannot connect their smartphones to the cell tower or use the internet to reach someone at another end, satellite messengers come in handy.
But smartphones altered with the functionality of doing the same thing alongside the known feats of connecting to the internet or communicating through texts or phone calls through cellular networks are relatively new in the market.
The smartphones supporting satellite compatibility are still in the earliest phase as products. Huawei just launched its Mate 50 series, a collection of phones enabled with satellite messaging.
Apple also brought out its iPhone 14 series, which is capable of satellite communication. Tech giant SpaceX has declared its initiative to bring along satellite communication. Google has announced plans to initiate satellite communication availability in Android 14. Although the concept of satellite communications isn't new since satellite communicators already exist, the phenomenon that smartphones can come with the ability to conduct satellite communication is fresh and intriguing. It will take the means of smartphone communication beyond the internet connection and cellular networks and eventually reach outer space.
How the latest satellite-compatible smartphones operate
Communication satellites send and receive terrestrial signals - working as the communication medium for devices at two ends. The smartphones enabled with satellite compatibility will connect to those satellites through radio waves. Typical satellite messengers work through the geostationary or low Earth orbital satellite systems. There are one-way and two-way communications. The sender can send messages through satellite connectivity but not receive any using one-way communication-enabled devices. Two-way communication-enabled devices can exchange updates between two different ends on Earth.
The Huawei Mate 50 smartphones can send messages by connecting to the Beidou satellites - making them applicable for one-way usage. Huawei Changlian app enables satellite connectivity. The phone uses the fresh Mobile Beidou Short Message Communication RF Baseband Integrated Chip to connect to satellites. They can send location information to seek help and support multiple locations to generate tracking maps.
Apple launched the iPhone 14 series enabled with emergency SOS messaging. SOS is a signal that indicates emergency help in Morse code. According to Apple's declarations, the message will take about 15 minutes to transmit via satellite. The Find My app will help share the location via satellite. November 2022 update of the iOS 16 will enable the feat.
Both brands have incorporated low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite operations to reach their means. LEO satellites are the most compatible thus far to connect to inaccessible regions on Earth. They get placed near the Earth, so they are more reachable. LEO satellites are the most frequently used for communications, space and Earth observations. Most artificial satellites orbiting the Earth are LEO satellites.
The satellite compatibility of smartphones is making newer ways to conduct communications through radio waves beyond Earth. Apple has been recruiting engineers specialising in satellite tech and closely related fields like aerospace and antennae since 2017.
Apple has declared to spend 450 million dollars and partnered with Globalstar Inc - an American satellite communications company, to deploy the satellite infrastructure.
Satellite communication brands and smartphone brands can benefit from this newly implemented smartphone feature. However, the satellite connectivity of smartphones is for emergency times only. Satellite connectivity takes longer time than cellular or internet connectivity.
Smartphones need customisation to support the bandwidth and antennae requirements for satellite connectivity. Satellites supporting smartphone connectivity need more power, and the density of satellites is a factor for better satellite connectivity. Thus, the usage of the feature will not be as frequent as cellular or internet connectivity.
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