Among the many comparatively sparse replace notes that accompanied yesterday’s iOS 18.5 Launch Candidate was the revelation that Apple is bringing assist for “carrier-provided satellite tv for pc options” to the iPhone 13. This may mark the primary time that Apple’s 2021 iPhone mannequin will have the ability to entry something by way of satellite tv for pc, but it surely’s not fairly the identical as what Apple affords on the iPhone 14 and later fashions.
Whereas rumors of satellite tv for pc communications coming to the iPhone 13 appeared in 2021, these turned out to be a non-starter. Stories of Apple’s satellite tv for pc ambitions went again to at the very least 2019, which doubtless fuelled among the hypothesis; nevertheless, the iPhone 13 assumptions turned out to be primarily based on some confusion round a brand new 5G frequency within the iPhone 13 modem chips and what it will truly be used for.
The frequency in query, band 53, was licensed completely to Globalstar, an organization finest identified for its satellite tv for pc networks. Some people jumped to the conclusion that this meant the band was being enabled for satellite tv for pc communications, lacking the truth that Globalstar additionally operates personal terrestrial LTE and 5G networks, which run on band 53.
Across the similar time, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman confirmed that Apple was engaged on satellite tv for pc options for a future iPhone, however that these wouldn’t doubtless seem till 2022 — which they did when Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc launched with the iPhone 14 household.
A Story of Two Satellite tv for pc Networks
Apple’s Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc initially offered a approach for folk stranded away from mobile or Wi-Fi entry to ship messages to an emergency dispatch middle. In iOS 17, it expanded to providing Roadside Help by way of satellite tv for pc by AAA and different taking part businesses after which Messages by way of satellite tv for pc in iOS 18.
Some have taken the sooner rumors of the iPhone 13 getting satellite tv for pc connectivity options to recommend that Apple may ultimately roll out Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc and the remainder to that older mannequin. Nonetheless, that’s not what’s taking place in iOS 18.5, neither is it more likely to ever occur except Apple essentially adjustments how its satellite tv for pc providers work.
The 2021 rumors prompt that Apple was constructing satellite tv for pc communications over 5G, much like what SpaceX and T-Cell have accomplished with Starlink.
Nonetheless, that’s not the path Apple went in. Apple’s portfolio of satellite tv for pc communications providers doesn’t function on customary 5G applied sciences. As a substitute, they use conventional satellite tv for pc frequencies often known as the S-band and L-band, as Apple defined in a late 2022 newsroom announcement:
Delivered in partnership with Globalstar, Apple’s Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc service makes use of the spectrum in L and S bands specifically designated for cellular satellite tv for pc providers by ITU Radio Laws. When an iPhone consumer makes an Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc request, the message is obtained by considered one of Globalstar’s 24 satellites in low-earth orbit touring at speeds of roughly 16,000 mph. The satellite tv for pc then sends the message all the way down to customized floor stations positioned at key factors all around the world.
This implies the iPhone wants particular radio {hardware} to speak with Apple’s Globalstar-powered satellite tv for pc constellation. The iPhone 14 and later fashions have these chips and antennas; older fashions don’t.
Meaning an iPhone 13 can’t assist Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc, Roadside Help by way of satellite tv for pc, or Messages by way of satellite tv for pc. Nonetheless, what an iPhone 13 can do is talk with satellites utilizing customary 5G frequencies. That’s what iOS 18.5 brings to the desk.
Apple launched 5G satellite tv for pc connectivity in iOS 18.3 however initially restricted it to the iPhone 14 and later fashions. This led some to imagine that the brand new carrier-provided satellite tv for pc options had been tied to Apple’s personal satellite tv for pc providers, however the truth is that they’re totally unrelated.
Because the identify suggests, carrier-provided satellite tv for pc options enable an iPhone to make use of a typical provider plan to speak with satellites moderately than simply terrestrial towers. The frequencies and communications are basically the identical; solely the endpoint adjustments to one thing in house moderately than a tower that’s fastened on the bottom.
That’s one thing that any 5G-capable iPhone ought to have the ability to do, offered it helps the proper 5G bands. This additionally means there’s no obvious purpose why the iPhone 12 is being omitted of the enjoyable. T-Cell’s Starlink, the one carrier-provided satellite tv for pc service proper now, makes use of 5G band 25 (n25), so this has nothing to do with the mysterious new band 53 that appeared within the iPhone 13’s modem chip. The iPhone 12 additionally helps band n25, so a future iOS replace may increase Starlink assist to Apple’s unique 5G mannequin.
Starlink and related providers use 5G frequencies which might be licensed to the carriers, which in flip have to forge their very own partnerships with satellite tv for pc suppliers. That’s why Apple’s carrier-provided satellite tv for pc options solely work with T-Cell proper now — they’re the one provider on the planet that’s established a deal to supply satellite tv for pc providers to prospects, and even that’s nonetheless technically in beta proper now.
Whereas Apple may have gone with Starlink-style 5G connectivity as an alternative of L-band and S-band communications, it wanted to chop out the intermediary to make sure that these emergency options can be out there to as many iPhone customers as attainable, whatever the provider they had been on. Utilizing conventional satellite tv for pc frequencies permits for that, plus a a lot faster world enlargement that isn’t hampered by communications rules and carriers.
The frequencies Apple makes use of are licensed by the Worldwide Telecommunications Union (ITU), which implies Apple doesn’t have to fret about licensing the frequencies in every nation. Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc can technically work almost wherever on the planet; the delay in rolling it out is simply because of the want to make sure that emergency providers are on board in overseas nations. Anyone nonetheless has to reply the calls.