With the release date of the iPhone 14 series approaching, rumors about satellite-enabled phones are intensifying. It can become one of the key features. But what is satellite communications and how is it useful?
It could literally change how we navigate and communicate without a cellular network. We’ve done our research so you don’t have to. Here is the understanding and explanation of the function in brief.
- What is satellite communications?
- Why is Apple choosing satellite?
- Satellite connection on iPhone and Apple Watch
What is 📡 satellite communication?
If you live somewhere with a connectivity problem, or you usually travel a lot, you’re probably well-versed in connection drops or no network. In such scenarios, you must rely on a telephone line or satellite connection.
For those who mostly live or work from one location, dial-up is the best option. But satellite is the best option if your profile is mobile and you travel frequently. However, satellite communications require compatible equipment. 3 satellite dishes are involved in it,
- One from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) hub that provides connectivity to a satellite in space.
- The second in space works as a network amplifier.
- And the latter is placed in your device, which acts as a network receiver that predicts the relayed signal.
Using radio waves, satellites orbiting the Earth communicate via the satellite internet. Network Operations Centers (NOCs) are ground stations responsible for receiving and transmitting data. This data comes from your device, passes through the modem and satellite dish to the satellite, and then returns to the earth to your device.
Fun fact: Satellites orbit 22,000 miles above the Earth’s surface, and they rotate with the Earth. They rotate at the same speed as the Earth, 30 kilometers per second or 67,000 miles per hour.
Satellite communications and SOS
Smartphones are becoming an integral part of our daily lives and every company has implemented SOS in their device. SOS services in smartphones rely on LTE networks, and wanderers like you and me defeat the purpose of their existence.
Satellite communication helps to solve this problem and provides communication with remote areas. This has proven to be an important factor in saving people’s lives in such situations, and satellite communications can help them seek help.
Why is Apple choosing satellite?
With these factors in mind, Apple is going one step further (let’s face it, they’ve always been one step ahead) and are planning to bring satellite connectivity to their iPhones and Apple Watches.
[Analysis] Survey updates for rumored’s iPhone 14 support for satellite communication / iPhone 14支持衛星通訊的調查更新@mingchikuo https://t.co/7MGLeTAtAo
Apple chooses satellite communications for improved connectivity and reliability. Apple’s huge user base often travels or lives in remote areas. This will make the iPhone more reliable in terms of connectivity. Ultimately, this will be an advantage for the user himself.
The availability of satellite communications will also improve GPS accuracy and the communications sector as their implementation sets the bar for the industry.
Satellite connection on iPhone and Apple Watch
As discussed earlier, the satellite option is the best connection to GPS and the network. Therefore, Apple hopes to include it in its iPhones and Apple Watches.
iPhone
iPhones are considered the safest and most reliable devices in the world. When it comes to durability, the iPhone also tops the list. The catch though is that they are still limited by network connectivity.
This may change now as we know that Apple’s satellite implementation will remove these barriers to connecting and disconnecting GPS. It will change the way we use iPhone every day, especially in remote, undeveloped areas.
Apple Watch
When we talk about the Apple Watch, we’ve heard of countless cases where it has saved countless lives (trust me, it also helped me in my time of need). With valuable features like ECG, cardio recovery and more.
The Apple Watch lagged behind due to its reliability when connected to an iPhone or LTE. Due to the lack of network connectivity, features such as SOS and emergency calls become useless.
With the introduction of satellite communications, this serious shortcoming can be solved. And in the end, it will be a valuable improvement for us.
Note. Rumor has it that this feature will be introduced in a more rugged, more expensive version of the Apple Watch Pro.
Conclusion
Satellite connectivity will be a key upgrade with the release of the iPhone 14 series and the upcoming Apple Watch 8 as it will save lives and be a game changer for many. Let’s wait and see how Apple envisions this feature and how perfect it is.