The unexpected release of Huawei's Mate 60 Pro has captured the public's attention due to its support for satellite calling capabilities, reigniting buzz about satellite to cellular communication.
Starting in 2022, both Apple and Huawei have introduced smartphones that incorporate satellite connectivity features, marking the onset of satellite communication's shift from a niche market to mainstream adoption. The iPhone 14 series and Huawei Mate 50, equipped with satellite emergency contact functions, utilize Globalstar and BeiDou satellites, respectively, to offer satellite communication services.
When examining the semiconductor industry's strategies, it becomes clear that integrating satellite communication into smartphones isn't merely a short-term strategy to stimulate smartphone sales in a sluggish market. Instead, it represents a long-term development trajectory. Companies like Qualcomm and MediaTek have made investments and publicized their involvement in this domain, recognizing it as a pivotal technology for entering the era of 6G.
Chinese company Unisoc has already introduced its inaugural satellite communication chip, the V8821, which supports data transmission, short messaging, location sharing, and voice calls. Recently, China Mobile collaborated with ZTE and Keysight Technologies to successfully conduct China's initial operator-level NR-NTN (new radio - non-terrestrial network) low-earth orbit(LEO) satellite laboratory simulation validation, facilitating mobile satellite broadband. This validation adhered to the 3GPP R17 NR-NTN international standard and confirmed the feasibility of direct mobile connectivity with LEO satellites. Similar to Qualcomm and MediaTek, Chinese companies also regard the concept of "sky-space-Earth integration" as a key direction for advancing into the next generation of communication."
Recently, SpaceX's return to profitability has signaled the feasibility of the commercial satellite communication services model to some degree. Reports indicate that in the first quarter of 2023, SpaceX reported a net profit of US$55 million. While a portion of this profit was generated from its rocket launch business, its satellite communication service, specifically the Starlink, has continued to attract more users, reaching a total of 100,000.
When contemplating the future trajectory of satellite communication, industry insiders emphasize that geosynchronous orbit(GSO) satellites, owing to their extensive track record, prolonged operational life, and high capacity, remain the dominant choice for satellite communication. Huawei's foray into mobile satellite communication predominantly relies on GSO satellites within the TianTong satellite system. However, it comes with notable drawbacks, including considerable transmission latency, power consumption, and coverage limitations.
LEO satellites are widely considered the most suitable satellite type for communication in terms of cost-effectiveness, power efficiency, and reduced latency. Despite their comparatively shorter lifespan, limited individual capacity, and the requirement for a substantial satellite constellation to achieve global coverage, the diminishing launch costs associated with LEOsatellites allow for the optimization of communication quality through quantity. Presently, companies like Starlink, OneWeb, and Telesat are actively deploying LEO satellite constellations.
In summary, the prerequisites for commercializing satellite communication, encompassing infrastructure, user terminals, and service models, have progressively matured. The next phase involves gauging the extent of user demand.
Article translated by Vyra Wu
