Satellite connectivity is a hallmark of all phones in Apple's iPhone 14 line, but the US government has unveiled new plans to make satellite phone connection more accessible to more users in the near future. .
As found by PhoneArena (opens in a new tab), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has filed a proposal that would allow wireless carriers like Verizon and AT&T to partner with satellite carriers to provide wireless coverage in areas that might otherwise not have sign.
Currently, Apple's partnership with satellite telecommunications company Globalstar allows its latest iPhones to connect to satellites through a feature called "Satellite Emergency SOS" (which we tested ourselves). All four iPhone 14 models feature high-tech components that interface with Apple-owned ground stations, where staff are available to respond to emergency calls from users in the US, UK, Canada, France, Ireland and Germany.
In other words, the existing infrastructure for smartphone-based satellite connectivity is, for the most part, owned and operated by Apple, which is a reality the US government hopes to change.
Samsung is expected to launch comparable satellite phone capabilities with its Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup next year, but again the Korean company will be using Qualcomm's proprietary Snapdragon Satellite service to achieve this.
Therefore, the United States government proposed a system in which "satellites in non-geostationary orbit leases from terrestrial spectrum owners. In simple terms, this means that satellite companies and mobile operators work together to provide coverage in areas without existing Wi-Fi or cellular coverage.
If the proposal is approved, the new phones will not need dedicated Apple-style components to connect to the satellites. Instead, it will be up to the mobile operators to facilitate these connections.
Of course, cell phone carriers will almost certainly charge higher rates for plans that allow emergency satellite connection, but it's exciting to think that such high-end smartphone functionality, currently reserved for the best iPhones and, more recently, for the Motorola Defy 2, it could soon be more widely available.
It's also worth noting that Apple has yet to confirm whether its "Emergency SOS via Satellite" feature will remain free for iPhone 14 users indefinitely. The life-saving technology is currently available for free for two years, but Apple may choose to implement a subscription fee or a one-time fee for iPhone 14 owners who use the feature after their free trial periods expire.
Apple's decision on the above will likely shape the mobile industry's broader approach to satellite connectivity. Satellites are expensive, and phone manufacturers will likely discourage users from attempting to communicate via satellite in non-emergency situations.
However, it is great news that soon more people will be able to make emergency calls when they need them.