“Regulators have not decided on the power limits from space, what concerns there are about interference, especially across national borders. SpaceX, like AST and Lynk, would need to negotiate access to spectrum on a country-by-country basis.Īpple’s competitors are unlikely to see commercial operations before 2024. T-Mobile and Starlink’s offering would work in the former PCS band in the United States. Assuming regulatory approval is forthcoming, the technology would work first in equatorial regions and then across more of the planet as these providers expand their satellite constellations.
The AST project and another company, Lynk Global, would use a dedicated network of satellites with larger-than-normal antennas to produce a 4G, 5G, and someday 6G cellular signal compatible with any existing 4G-compatible phone (as detailed in other recent IEEE Spectrum coverage of space-based 5G offerings). The Apple offering uses the existing satellite bandwidth Globalstar once used for messaging offerings, but without the need for a satellite-specific handset. In addition, T-Mobile USA and SpaceX intend to offer their own messaging and limited data service via the second generation of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite constellation, as the two companies announced on 25 August.Įach contender is taking a different approach to space-based cellular service. Second, AST SpaceMobile plans a launch on Saturday, 10 September, of an experimental satellite to test full-fledged satellite 5G service. First, Apple will offer emergency satellite messaging on two of its latest iPhone models, the company announced on Wednesday. The race to deliver cellular calls from space passes two milestones this month and saw one major announcement last month.