SpaceX’s $17 billion acquisition of spectrum licenses from EchoStar is set to enhance Starlink’s satellite-to-smartphone service, potentially prompting major corporations to reconsider their partnerships with Starlink’s rivals. With SpaceX planning to launch up to 15,000 advanced satellites for cellular connectivity, companies like AT&T and Verizon may doubt their ties with AST SpaceMobile. Apple, already facing internal skepticism over its Globalstar deal, now has further cause to question the wisdom of its decision to decline an offer from Elon Musk.
Jon Brodkin for Ars Technica:
SpaceX plans to acquire EchoStar’s rights to the spectrum in the US and globally. This “spectrum will allow SpaceX to provide phone, text, and broadband services from space to mobile users throughout the United States and around the world, especially in areas where terrestrial systems do not reach and at times when terrestrial coverage may be unavailable,” SpaceX told the Federal Communications Commission in a filing that seeks approval of the transaction and describes its plan for the satellites… [T]he FCC is likely to give SpaceX the approvals it needs for its new satellite network.
Starlink has deployed about 650 Direct to Cell (D2C) satellites under its existing authorizations, but the new satellites will be more capable and more numerous. Starlink service offered through T-Mobile initially supported texting only and now has limited data service. It’s a free add-on for T-Mobile’s most expensive plans, and it’s available for a $10 monthly fee on other T-Mobile plans.
SpaceX said the next-generation system will support voice, texting, and high-speed data. “The SpaceX MSS [mobile-satellite service] system will communicate with fixed and mobile earth stations and will be capable of providing connectivity virtually anywhere on Earth,” SpaceX said… If all goes as planned, Starlink should be able to provide a much-improved service for smartphones in late 2027.
Apple is partnering with satellite company Globalstar for the iPhone’s emergency SOS feature. The service is free to iPhone users, at least for now. Apple declined a pitch from Musk, who reportedly sought a $5 billion payment from the iPhone maker in exchange for an 18-month exclusivity deal.
There’s some internal frustration at Apple about Globalstar’s limited capabilities compared to Starlink, according to a May report by The Information. The concerns are that the Globalstar network is “outdated, slow, and limited in what features it can support compared with offerings from SpaceX and others.”
MacDailyNews Take: iPhone users, including non-T-Mobile subscribers, can add T-Satellite with Starlink by calling 1-844-638-8913 or visiting a T-Mobile retail store. More info here.
Note: On February 28, 2023, Apple lent Globalstar $252 million to help cover upfront costs for replenishing its low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation to support Apple’s “Emergency SOS via satellite.”
See also: Apple to invest up to $1.5 billion more in Globalstar for satellite coverage expansion – November 1, 2024
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Tim Cook another forward thinking move
Was this a sound commercial decision or based on political views and personal prejudice
“The service is free to iPhone users, at least for now. Apple declined a pitch from Musk, who reportedly sought a $5 billion payment from the iPhone maker in exchange for an 18-month exclusivity deal.
There’s some internal frustration at Apple about Globalstar’s limited capabilities compared to Starlink, according to a May report by The Information. The concerns are that the Globalstar network is “outdated, slow, and limited in what features it can support compared with offerings from SpaceX and others.”
Not going with Starlink was a dumb idea.
You are only thinking sat to cell phone business model, which Apple does need, but it’s much bigger than that. It’s about global connectivity, reliable connectivity and switching, IoT, AI, and edge computing at the remote device level. This, is where the long term play is, robotics, autonomous vehicles, connected via a seamless sat based network that allows other industries to license in their own products, systems and environments. This is so much more than watching Netflix off the grid while you text your girlfriend back in the city. Yes, Apple wants the phone device to sat like everyone else, but they are thinking much longer and bigger
Don’t be surprised when Apple /Gsat and starlink are all partnered in some fashion enabling everything that Apple originally envisioned: high speed sat to phone with everything we have with cellular but now with satellites. That sells phones. Also, more reliable connected phones via band 53/Gsat that don’t drop and penetrate in clustered areas and buildings, means a ton of apple car play vehicles connected to these sat Gsat connected phones.
Remember, Apple invested in the backing of gsat’s upgrade and next two gen sats, for 85% of the bandwidth. That leaves plenty of space for Gsat to run its IoT,, private WiFi networks and track g /logistics part of their business model.