The recent release of Huawei’s Mate 60 phones has brought attention to the growing market for mobile phones with Satellite connectivity. This niche technology is revolutionizing the wireless communication industry and gaining momentum worldwide, particularly in China, the largest smartphone market.

In the past year, there have been several advancements in Satellite Connectivity. Apple introduced a satellite short message service for emergency situations, allowing users to send text messages via a Low Earth Orbit satellite. Huawei also offered a texting service via China’s BeiDou satellite network. AST SpaceMobile, a U.S. firm, successfully routed a 5G call through one of its satellites using an unmodified smartphone. SpaceX’s Starlink, with its vast network of LEO satellites, plans to launch a direct-to-cell satellite phone service in 2024.

China has taken the lead in this race due to years of prior development. Huawei, among the first to offer mobile phones directly connected to satellites, uses geosynchronous (GEO) satellites for its satellite service, which is technically more challenging than using low Earth orbit satellites.

A major challenge in creating portable satellite phones is the size of the antennas. Traditional GEO satellite phones have large external antennas, making them bulky. To overcome this, China Telecom collaborated with Huawei to develop higher technical standards that allow satellite service in a regular smartphone format.

In addition to antenna size, cooling down smaller chipsets for satellite function poses another challenge. China Telecom and Huawei have implemented various approaches, including energy-saving techniques and advanced cooling technology, to dissipate heat effectively.

One advantage of satellite communication is its ability to provide connectivity in areas where terrestrial networks are unreachable. Although the capacity of GEO satellites is lower compared to terrestrial networks, it serves as a necessary connectivity solution in dire situations.

However, there are still challenges that neither terrestrial nor satellite communication can solve. For instance, when ships pass through the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, setting up a telecom base station in the steep mountains is difficult, and the satellite signals may be obstructedthe mountains.

The rise of mobile phones with satellite connectivity is opening up new opportunities for global connectivity, especially in remote or underserved areas. As this technology continues to evolve, innovations in antenna size, chipset cooling, and seamless integration with terrestrial networks will further enhance the user experience.

Definitions:
– Low Earth orbit (LEO): A satellite orbiting at a relatively low altitude of about 1,200 kilometers or less.
– Geosynchronous (GEO) satellite: A satellite placed in a geostationary orbit above the Earth’s equator, maintaining a fixed position relative to Earth’s rotation.

Sources:
– Article: Customers try out the newly launched Huawei Mate 60 Pro at a store in Shanghai, September 3, 2023. /CFP
– Liu Yue, deputy head of China Telecom Corporation Limited Satellite Communication Branch

Exploring the Rise of Mobile Phones with Satellite Connectivity .

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