In a surprising move, Huawei unveiled its latest 5G smartphone at the end of August, strategically timing its release ahead of Apple's anticipated 2023 smartphone launch. Beyond its notable 5G capabilities, Huawei's new smartphone has garnered attention for its groundbreaking satellite communication feature. This development positions Huawei as a contender in the satellite communication arena, putting it in direct competition with Apple.
In 2022, both Huawei and Apple introduced smartphones with satellite communication support, namely the Mate50 and iPhone 14, respectively. While these initial models primarily focused on essential satellite communication functions such as messaging and location sharing for emergencies, they marked the beginning of a larger trend in the smartphone industry. Following their lead, major chip manufacturers like Qualcomm and MediaTek expressed their intentions to develop chipsets supporting satellite communication. Additionally, numerous smartphone brands announced their plans to create models equipped with satellite communication capabilities. Consequently, it is foreseeable that satellite communication will soon become a standard feature in smartphones within the next one to two years.
However, industry experts suggest that the ultimate battleground for satellite communication will not be limited to smartphones but will extend to satellite operators. Similar to terrestrial communication, the quality of satellite communication heavily relies on several factors, including the link budget, which considers signal gain and loss throughout the communication process. Given the physical limitations of smartphone designs, neither Huawei's new smartphone nor Apple's upcoming model incorporates specific design elements tailored for satellite communication. As a result, the critical challenge lies in how satellite operators can adapt to facilitate direct satellite communication with smartphones.
The key determinant of successful communication is the link budget, which encompasses signal gain and loss factors stemming from the transmitting end, communication link, propagation environment, and receiving end. In cases where smartphones lack particularly large antennas on the receiving end, it necessitates higher signal transmission power from the satellite side to ensure seamless and high-quality communication.
According to Professor C. K. Chao from National Central University's Department of Space Science and Engineering, when considering the link budget, the size of current mobile phone antennas supporting satellite communication doesn't necessarily have to be unusually large. However, it is crucial for satellites to have ample power on their end to ensure smooth and direct satellite communication with mobile phones. If smartphones remain at their current dimensions, it suggests that satellites must be relatively large to generate the required power.
In practice, SpaceX, a leading global satellite operator, serves as a prime example of this trend. Towards the end of 2022, SpaceX obtained approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States to deploy 7,500 second-generation Starlink low-orbit satellites into space. Notably, these second-generation satellites are substantially larger, measuring 7x3 meters, compared to the first-generation Starlink satellites, which were 3x1.5 meters. This expansion reflects the growing demand for satellite internet traffic and the future requirement for direct satellite communication with smartphones.
Although the initial plan to transport second-generation Starlink satellites using SpaceX's Starship faced challenges leading to launch delays, the redesigned second-generation Starlink Mini can be launched using the Falcon 9 rocket, serving as an interim solution for emergency situations. This illustrates that enabling direct satellite communication services on smartphones is not solely contingent on smartphone design. In circumstances where smartphone designs have reached their physical limitations, the pivotal factor is the satellite side's capacity to deploy sufficiently large satellites with high-power capabilities, facilitating satellite to cellular services.
With the release of Huawei's new smartphone, boasting advanced satellite communication features compared to 2022, it is highly likely that Apple's upcoming smartphone will also make significant strides in satellite communication technology. This is particularly noteworthy due to Apple's close partnership with satellite operator Globalstar. Globalstar recently allocated a substantial investment of US$64 million to SpaceX for satellite launches and committed to reserving 85% of network capacity for satellite communication on iPhones. Moreover, Apple has dedicated substantial resources to enhance satellite services and equipment in collaboration with Globalstar.
In summary, the future of communication lies not only within smartphones but also on the satellite side, making this area a significant focus of attention.
Article translated by Vyra Wu
