The Information reports that Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro might include complete 5G satellite connectivity. Should this speculation prove true, it would significantly benefit users located in regions with unreliable carrier coverage. While existing iPhones offer an Emergency SOS via satellite capability that enables users to reach emergency services when outside cellular coverage, this function has limitations by design. It permits only text messaging and does not allow internet access. In contrast, 5G satellite connectivity would grant users full broadband capabilities in locations lacking Wi-Fi or cellular service.
To facilitate the introduction of this capability, Apple is said to be collaborating with SpaceX, which manages Starlink. Interestingly, the report mentions that SpaceX has recently incorporated support for the same radio spectrum utilized by Apple for its Emergency SOS feature. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to remember that Starlink, in its present form, necessitates a dish to receive and transmit satellite signals. Every Starlink user receives a hardware kit to ensure connectivity. This setup is clearly not the most user-friendly, indicating that Apple might be attempting to incorporate this feature directly into the iPhone itself. However, this would present an intriguing engineering challenge for a portable device.
