Apple is believed to be on a gradual journey that began with Emergency SOS via Satellite on the iPhone 14 back in 2022 and will at some point progress to full 5G access via satellite, bypassing ground-based antenna altogether.
It’s previously been suggested that the iPhone 18 Pro might take a significant step in this direction with support for 5G over satellite links. A new report today adds weight to that idea …
The story so far
The last four generations of iPhone have support for the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, which provides limited data access when outside the range of mobile networks.
Initially launched as a means of texting emergency services, it has been gradually expanded to include roadside assistance and messaging family and friends. It is, however, still a slow and limited service intended simply to provide a safety net while in remote areas.
There have been multiple suggestions that Apple’s long-term goal is to eventually bypass ground-based mobile networks altogether and switch to satellite connectivity for 5G mobile comms.
iPhone 18 Pro 5G satellite comms
Some of the reports have suggested that the iPhone 18 Pro will be the first model to get the hardware necessary to deliver 5G connectivity direct from satellites.
Weibo user Fixed Focus Digital, a leaker with a decent track record, today says 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 on smartphones is a major highlight, and Apple’s C2 baseband this year will support NR-NTN.
NR-NTN refers to New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks, which integrates 5G capabilities into satellite connectivity.
9to5Mac’s Take
There does now seem to be growing evidence that Apple is gradually headed in this direction, and that the capability may be first introduced in this year’s iPhone 18 Pro models.
We shouldn’t, however, get too excited just yet. 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 is still a long way off. It not only requires a massive expansion in the number of compatible satellites but also presents Apple with some tricky decisions regarding relationships with carrier partners.
All the same, if the reports are accurate, this will be a decent step in the right direction, and it will be interesting to see what Apple chooses to do with it this year. As a minimum, we can likely expect some kind of expansion in the satellite services offered through the iPhone.
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