Today, Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in his latest report that the iPhone 13 will support low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication, allowing users to make calls and send messages in areas without 4G or 5G coverage.
He predicts that the iPhone 13 will support low-Earth orbit satellite communications in hardware. If Apple activates the software feature, iPhone 13 users will be able to make calls and send messages via satellite even in areas without 4G or 5G coverage.
Ming-Chi Kuo also stated that Apple is optimistic about the future prospects of satellite communication. Apple should already have formed a dedicated team and is continuously conducting research and development in related technologies.
Kuo also said that Globalstar is most likely to cooperate with Apple to provide satellite communications services. In addition, SpaceX’s Starlink and China CASC are also worth investors’ attention.
It is reported that from a hardware perspective, the iPhone 13’s satellite communication capability is made possible by the customized X60 modem, which is different from the integrated modem used in the Snapdragon 888, particularly with the added support for the n53 band. If other smartphone brands also want to launch devices that support satellite communication, they will need to wait until 2022 to use the X65 modem.