IPhone 13 satellite support rumor disputed, likely for additional 5G spectrum

Over the weekend, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo sent a research note suggesting that the iPhone 13 was “likely” to support low-earth orbit satellite communication, a feature that would allow iPhone users to make calls and send messages over cellular and WiFi connections. are unavailable.

In that memo, Kuo said Apple will use a “custom” Qualcomm X60 baseband chip that supports satellite communications. He also claimed that Apple will work with Qualcomm’s partner Globalstar on the basis that Qualcomm implements Globalstar’s n53 band support in a future modem.

Almost immediately, mobile analysts and those with other skills in mobile devices and communications began to dispute Kuo’s report as inaccurate.

Globalstar is indeed a satellite company that works with Qualcomm, but the n53 band Kuo mentioned is earthly spectrum. In February, Globalstar announced that Qualcomm’s next-generation X65 modem would offer global support for 5G n53 in an effort to expand Globalstar’s “terrestrial spectrum marketability”.

The n53 band is a variation of Globalstar’s terrestrial band 53, which is already in use for private 4G and 5G networks. Nokia, for example, uses band 53 for a private wireless network in the Port of Seattle. Globalstar uses half-band spectrum for partner companies that would not otherwise have access to licensed spectrum.

Globalstar does not market or offer band 53 or n53 spectrum for satellite communications – it is for terrestrial coverage only. Satellite-to-Earth communication is not a function of the spectrum mentioned by Kuo, and it is not approved for this kind of use.

It should be noted that Qualcomm is partnering with Globalstar for band 53 in the X65 modem, which is not the modem Apple is using this year. Apple uses the X60, but it looks like there is a special variant designed for Apple that supports the n53. That doesn’t mean the iPhone 13‌ will get satellite communication functionality, and there are signs that it points to the possibility of improvements in 5G connectivity instead.

Many people have pointed out the problem between Kuo’s prediction and the actual function of the n53 band. PCMagSascha Segan, for example, says that while the X60 may support Globalstar’s 53 band, that doesn’t mean it’ll communicate with satellites in any way. Other Twitter users have reported similar issues and provided more technical details to those interested.

Kuo often has a precise overview of Apple’s plans, but there appears to have been some sort of misunderstanding or misunderstanding with his investor note. It is possible that Kuo thinks the X60 will support another spectrum which is not n53, but given that it specifically mentions the n53 and the upcoming Qualcomm X65 modem supports the n53 and not the spectrum that would allow satellite communications in low earth orbit, that seems highly unlikely.

There have been rumors that Apple has a “secret” satellite team working on ways to use satellites for communication purposes. Apple has a dozen aerospace, satellite and antenna design engineers working on the project, Bloomberg said in 2019.

Apple’s goal with the project is to reduce reliance on wireless carriers and improve coverage, and Apple at the time hoped to deliver results “within five years.”

This timeline would see Apple launch some sort of satellite communications feature around 2024.