Satellite Archives - Gizmochina

Satellite Connectivity: Which Phones Support It and Do You Really Need It?

Sean — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:19:15 +0000

Satellite connectivity is one of the latest advancements in smartphone technology, offering users the ability to stay connected even in remote areas where traditional cellular networks fail. While this feature has been around for some time now, this technology is mostly seen in premium devices. But how does it work, which phones support it, and do you really need it? Read on to find out.

Which Phones Support Satellite Connectivity in 2025?

As of 2025, satellite connectivity isn’t a universal feature but it is slowly being adopted by premium phones. It is currently being offered by a couple of brands, so let’s check them out:

Samsung

Samsung’s latest Galaxy S25 series brought support for satellite messaging. This was initially rumored to arrive with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it finally made an appearance with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy powered S25 series. But there’s a catch, the company didn’t widely market this feature since it isn’t available to everyone. Samsung only offers satellite connectivity with one satellite operator, Skylo (which is only in partnership in the US with Verizon).

Apple

Apple is another brand that offers satellite connectivity, allowing you to send SOS messages from the iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 series. The service is more widely available on the newer models, unlike Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series.

Huawei

Huawei first introduced satellite connectivity with the launch of its flagship Mate 50 series. The lineup supported short text messages via the BeiDou satellite network. This was later upgraded to include audio calls in the newer Mate 60 Pro. The newer Pura 70 Ultra supports satellite communication which brings image sharing without an internet connection.

Google

With the Pixel 9 series, Google also joined the satellite communication race. It offers emergency SOS messaging in collaboration with SpaceX’s Starlink system.

Xiaomi

The Chinese tech giant’s Xiaomi 15 Pro, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and MIX Fold 4 are two models that bring support for two-way satellite communication. So you get access to network access even in remote areas. The upcoming Xiaomi 15 Ultra is expected to feature this technology as well.

There are a bunch of other brands that also support satellite communication like Oppo (Find X8 Pro Satellite Edition), Nubia (Z60S Pro), Honor (X60), and others.

Do You Really Need Satellite Connectivity?

Satellite connectivity isn’t a feature that one would use every day. But depending on your lifestyle, it could be very important. For instance, f you frequently hike, camp, or travel to remote areas, satellite connectivity can be a lifesaver in emergencies. It also ensures that travellers can have some peace of mind in areas with unreliable cellular networks.

However, However, it’s not essential for everyone. The technology serves no purpose to urban users and can bring additional costs to the customers (if the service has a subscription model). Most implementations are restricted to text messaging or SOS alerts since voice calls and internet access have yet to hit the mainstream. So for now, whether you need it depends on how often you find yourself off the grid.

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

Tech enthusiast? Get the latest news first! Follow our Telegram channel and subscribe to our free newsletter for your daily tech fix!

The post Satellite Connectivity: Which Phones Support It and Do You Really Need It? appeared first on Gizmochina.

How Chinese Satellite SDGSAT-1 will Help Distinguish Between Various Light Sources

Anubhav — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 03:15:20 +0000

Chinese scientists are harnessing the capabilities of the science satellite SDGSAT-1 to tackle the growing issue of light pollution in urban settings. A recent study by the Aerospace Information Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which made it to the International Journal of Digital Earth, highlights the innovative use of this satellite.

The satellite provides high-res nighttime light data to combat light pollution.

The study points out the shift towards LED lighting in the quest for decarbonization. While LEDs are energy-efficient, they also introduce a new problem—blue light pollution. This has necessitated the development of a tool that can quickly and accurately identify different types of light sources on a large scale.

Image Credits: NASA

SDGSAT-1 is stepping up to meet this need. It’s not just another satellite; it’s providing high-resolution, multispectral nighttime light data that other sources don’t offer.

Taking Beijing as a testbed, scientists demonstrated the satellite’s prowess with a stunning 92 percent accuracy in pinpointing artificial light at night and a 95 percent hit rate for streetlights. The satellite’s imagery lays bare the patterns of light across the city, especially along the 5th Ring Road, offering a new perspective on how light pollution varies in different parts of the urban jungle.

The findings are more than just a map of bright spots; they show significant differences in lighting across various road types and streetlights. This points to the impact that urban design and infrastructure have on the adoption of lighting technologies.

The SDGSAT-1 isn’t just a one-trick pony. Launched on November 5, 2021, it has the distinction of being the first space science satellite dedicated to aiding the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its mission is to keep an eye from the sky on how humans, nature, and sustainable development interact.

Last September, SDGSAT-1’s contribution to our understanding of urban growth and sustainability was underscored when it provided the first-ever global atlas of urban nighttime light remote-sensing data. This atlas isn’t just a collection of pretty night-time city pictures; it’s a comprehensive 10-meter resolution dataset covering 147 cities in 105 countries, a treasure trove for researchers devoted to sustainable urban development.

RELATED:

(VIA)

The post How Chinese Satellite SDGSAT-1 will Help Distinguish Between Various Light Sources appeared first on Gizmochina.

China Reveals the Name of Manned Lunar Lander & New Spaceship

Anubhav — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 04:56:14 +0000

China recently shared exciting news about its space exploration efforts, revealing the names of its manned lunar lander and a new crew spaceship. This development marks a key step in the nation’s journey to explore outer space. The lunar lander is named Lanyue, which means Embracing the Moon, a name inspired by a poem from Chairman Mao Zedong in 1965. This choice reflects the dream and confidence of the Chinese people in their space exploration endeavors.

The spaceship has been named Mengzhou, which translates to Dream Vessel

The crew spaceship has been named Mengzhou, or Dream Vessel, indicating its role in realizing the dream of landing on the moon and exploring new frontiers in space. Mengzhou will have two versions: one for moon missions and another for trips between Earth and the Tiangong space station, taking over the duties from the current Shenzhou spaceship.

These names, Lanyue and Mengzhou, were selected from nearly 2,000 suggestions by the public, showing the wide participation and interest of the Chinese people in their country’s space missions. The development of these spacecraft, along with the Long March 10 rocket, is on track, highlighting China’s commitment to its space exploration goals.

China plans to send its first manned mission to the moon around 2030. The Lanyue lander is designed with a landing and propulsion section to carry two astronauts and a rover to the moon. The Mengzhou spacecraft, designed for space travel, includes a reentry module for the astronauts and a service module equipped with power and propulsion systems.

RELATED:

(VIA)

The post China Reveals the Name of Manned Lunar Lander & New Spaceship appeared first on Gizmochina.

China Launches An Experimental Communication Satellite, Marking its 9th Launch This Year

Anubhav — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 15:41:08 +0000

On February 23, 2024, China marked another achievement in space exploration by launching an experimental communication satellite. This event highlights China’s ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of what’s possible above Earth’s atmosphere.

The satellite will test out ways of high-speed communication from space

The launch involved the Long March-5 Y7 rocket, lifting off from Hainan’s Wenchang Space Launch Center. The mission’s star, the Communication Technology Demonstrator 11 satellite, was sent into orbit with a clear task: to test out new ways of doing high-speed communications across multiple bands from space.

This wasn’t just any launch. It was China’s ninth this year, showcasing the country’s busy schedule in space activities. The mission also added another successful chapter to the Long March rocket family’s history, now counting 509 flights.

The brains behind the rocket, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, and the satellite, the China Academy of Space Technology, are both looking into the future. They’re exploring how to improve connections between us down here and the vast expanse of space.

Beyond this launch, China’s space agenda is ambitious. Plans include sending the Chang’e 6 probe to the moon’s far side to collect and return samples to Earth, showing a keen interest in unlocking the moon’s mysteries.

Every Long March-5 rocket, fueled with over 750 metric tons of propellant, is a testament to China’s technological capabilities in space. It’s not just about reaching higher and further but doing so with an eye on practical applications, like better communication technologies that could change how we connect across the globe.

RELATED:

(Via)

The post China Launches An Experimental Communication Satellite, Marking its 9th Launch This Year appeared first on Gizmochina.

China Mobile Makes History, Launches First-Ever 6G Test Satellite

Anubhav — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 05:57:00 +0000

On February 3, China Mobile made headlines by launching the first-ever satellite aimed at testing 6G technology, placing the telecom giant at the forefront of exploring new sectors in communication. The satellite, which orbits the Earth at a relatively close distance, is meant to test the waters for what could be the next big thing in global telecom.

The satellite will orbit our planet from only 500 kilometers up

The satellite is unique because it’s designed to orbit the Earth much closer than most, at about 500 kilometers up. This low-earth orbit means it can send and receive data much faster and more reliably than satellites that are farther away. The technology on board, developed alongside the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is groundbreaking. It’s built with homegrown tech that can update itself from space and manage its operations automatically, making it both smart and efficient.

Image Credits: Chinadaily.com.cn

The idea behind this satellite isn’t just about testing new tech; it’s about solving real-world problems. Today, many places around the world still struggle with poor internet because the signal from far-away satellites isn’t strong enough. A new satellite could change that, making fast internet available everywhere.

China Mobile is not stopping here. They plan to keep testing this technology to see how it can best connect space to the ground, making our global communication network faster and more accessible to everyone. This launch is actually a huge win for the future of communication, potentially making the dream of high-speed internet available to every corner of the globe a reality.

RELATED:

(Via)

The post China Mobile Makes History, Launches First-Ever 6G Test Satellite appeared first on Gizmochina.

China’s New Satellite May Have the Answer to Solving Urban Light Pollution

Anubhav — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 02:12:48 +0000

We have been battling against urban light pollution, because let’s be honest, we all miss the stars that have been blocked out by the bright city lights. However, the answer comes in the form of SDGSAT-1, a satellite developed by Chinese scientists. This earth science marvel is making extremely fast progress in analyzing the effects of modern lighting on cities. The team behind this innovative approach, hailing from the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has showcased a method that could change the way we light up our urban nights.

While LEDs cut down on carbon emissions, it increases the blue light pollution levels

The transition to energy-efficient lighting, mainly through LEDs, has been a double-edged sword. While cutting down on carbon emissions, it’s introduced a new challenge: blue light pollution. In turn, this not only affects human health but also disrupts wildlife and wastes energy. The need for a solution has never been more pressing.

Image Credits: Sean Lim

Enter SDGSAT-1, a satellite equipped with the capability to discern various light sources with incredible accuracy. By focusing on Beijing, the scientists have demonstrated a 92 to 95 percent success rate in identifying different types of artificial light at night (ALAN) and streetlights. This high-resolution, multispectral analysis is a game-changer, offering a clear picture of how light pollution varies across different parts of the city.

This study doesn’t just highlight problems; it opens the door to smarter urban planning. With detailed insights into the spatial distribution of light pollution, city planners can now make informed decisions on reducing its impact. The data points to significant differences in lighting based on road types and streetlight technologies, underscoring the role of thoughtful infrastructure development in mitigating pollution.

Launched with the aim of supporting the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, this satellite provides invaluable data for monitoring how we interact with our environment. Last year’s release of the world’s first urban nighttime light atlas, covering 147 cities across 105 countries, is just the beginning.

RELATED:

(Via)

The post China’s New Satellite May Have the Answer to Solving Urban Light Pollution appeared first on Gizmochina.

US Space Force contracts SpaceX for Starshield satellite communications

Sean — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 09:07:12 +0000

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been contracted by the US Space Force. The company has received the 70 million US Dollar contract to provide satellite communications using its new Starshield program. So here’s everything you need to know about this deal.

SpaceX Starshield: What’s it all about?

Starshield is basically SpaceX repurposing its Starlink network of satellites to offer functionality for the US military. As per official notes, it is a “secured satellite network for government entities”. The contract has a duration of one year. According to a US Space Force spokesperson, “The SpaceX contract provides for Starshield end-to-end service (via the Starlink constellation), user terminals, ancillary equipment, network management and other related services.”

During the initial stages of the contract, the Space Force will pay SpaceX a sum of 15 million US Dollars, which will have the latter offer 54 military “mission partners” across Department of Defence (DoD) branches. Interestingly enough, this news soon after US senators criticized SpaceX’s actions in Ukraine. It was recently revealed that Elon Musk refused to extend Starlink coverage to allow for a naval attack against Russian forces.

The senators expressed their dismay at his actions saying that “We are deeply concerned with the ability and willingness of SpaceX to interrupt their service at Mr. Musk’s whim”. Elon Musk shot back stating that “Starlink needs to be a civilian network, not a participant to combat. Starshield will be owned by the US government and controlled by DoD Space Force.”

RELATED:

(Via)

The post US Space Force contracts SpaceX for Starshield satellite communications appeared first on Gizmochina.

ISRO successfully launches another 36 OneWeb satellites with LVM3 rocket

Sean — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 09:34:16 +0000

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) has just successfully launched another 36 satellites from its largest LVM3 rocket. These new satellites were launched by NewSpace India Limited (MSIL) and officially completes the plans to release 72 satellites of OneWeb to Low Earth Orbit.

For those unaware, the Indian Space agency had previously deployed 36 satellites of OneWeb back in October 2022. And on Sunday (March 26), it announced that the lift off was successful and carried a total of 36 OneWeb Gen 1 satellites that weigh around 150 kilograms for a total payload of 5,805 kilograms. Following launch, the LVM3 rocket hit the required altitude of 450 kilometers in about 9 minutes.

The rocket reached the conditions to release the satellites into Low Earth Orbit in 18 minutes and began releasing these OneWeb satellites in the 20th minute mark.The new 36 OneWeb satellites were separated in 9 phases with batches of 4. OneWeb also confirmed that the satellite injection was successful as it confirmed the acquisition of signals from all 36 satellites. Notably, this mission being successful also marks the second OneWeb satellite deployment project from India.

Furthermore, this is also OneWeb’s 18th launch, which brings its total OneWeb satellite count to 618 units. The OneWeb constellation design requires 588 satellites for global coverage and additional satellites are planned for resiliency and redundancy, as per the company.

RELATED:

(Via)

The post ISRO successfully launches another 36 OneWeb satellites with LVM3 rocket appeared first on Gizmochina.

Xiaomi, Oppo, & Others Working on Satellite Communication for Future Phones with Qualcomm

Sean — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 11:30:33 +0000

Xiaomi, Oppo, and a bunch of other smartphone makers are working on bringing satellite communication technology on their future smartphones. The news arrives from an announcement from Qualcomm at the MWC 2023 event in Barcelona. So here are all the details.

During the major conference, the chipmaking giant announced that Xiaomi, Vivo, Motorola, Oppo, Honor, and Nothing are working on bringing satellite communication technology on their future mobile devices. While the company did confirm that Android OEMs are working on adding satellite based communications like how Apple did with the iPhone 14 series, it is still unclear when the companies will be rolling out this feature for their future phones.

For those unaware, Qualcomm had previously announced the new Snapdragon Satellite technology that it has been working on in partnership with satellite service provider Iridium during the CES 2023 (Consumer Electronics Show) event last month. So, it is clear that smartphone from Xiaomi, Motorola, and the other brands will soon support two way texting and more in emergency situations. As per the official announcement, the Snapdragon Satellite will be available across upcoming RF modems and multiple models of 8 and 4 series of processors for smartphones.

According to Qualcomm vice president for product management, Francesco Grilli “By incorporating Snapdragon Satellite into next–generation devices, our partners will be able to offer satellite messaging capabilities thanks to a mature and commercially available global LEO constellation, which can allow subscribers around the world to communicate outdoors with emergency service providers, as well as family and friends”.

India’s Satellite Launch Vehicle D2 Completes Mission: Delivers 3 Satellites to Orbit

Joane — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 11:23:08 +0000

India successfully launched its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) D2 from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota at 10:48 p.m. EST on February 10. The SSLV-D2 carried an Earth Observation satellite (EOS-07) and two other co-satellites called Janus1 and AzadiSat2 which were placed in a 450km circular orbit around our planet.

EOS-07 is a 156.3 kg satellite designed and developed by ISRO and Janus-1 is a 10.2 kg satellite made by the US company Antaris. AzaadiSAT-2 is an 8.7kg satellite made by 750 girl students under the guidance of Space Kidz India. The whole mission was successfully completed within 15 minutes of the flight. The success of the mission was important to ISRO as the vehicle had failed its maiden flight in August 2022.

During the August flight, SSLV ran into trouble during the second stage of separation. The rocket started vibrating intensely which then saturated all six accelerometers in the SSLV’s navigation system. This automatically pushed the rocket into salvage mode wherein it deployed the two payloads in the wrong orbit.

The SSLV was developed by ISRO (Indian Space and Research Organization) to launch satellites to low earth orbits on a Launch-on Demand basis. The vehicle has a max capacity of 500kgs and can carry multiple payloads.

After today’s successful launch, ISRO has gained firm ground in the commercial small and micro-satellite market. ISRO chief S. Somanathan said that the team is now preparing for the GSLV Mark III launch which will carry 236 OneWeb satellites and is also gearing up for the landing demonstration of their reusable launch vehicle.

(via)

The post India’s Satellite Launch Vehicle D2 Completes Mission: Delivers 3 Satellites to Orbit appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple’s Emergency SOS Via Satellite Feature Saves Two Lives in Canada!

Oğuz Çakır — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 11:03:35 +0000

Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature has been available for some time. This feature, which has resulted in numerous survival stories, is almost a game changer. A recent case confirms this, as two women who went missing in Canada were found with the help of the Emergency SOS via satellite feature. Here are the details…

iPhone 14’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature saved two women in Canada

Recently, it was reported that two women were traveling home after visiting Alberta when they became lost near McBride, a small village in British Columbia, Canada. Unfortunately, while trying to find their way back, they had a car accident and became stranded in an area with no cell phone reception.

They made it around 20 kilometers down the road before hitting a “wall of snow,” indicating where the plow had stopped, and getting stuck. The two women were in a rather desperate situation. Fortunately one of the women had an iPhone 14 and thought to use the new Emergency SOS via satellite feature. Using the iPhone 14, they were able to send a message and their location to an Apple call center.

From there, the Apple call center contacted the “Northern911” call center in Canada, which then activated a call to emergency service. Rescue teams pulled the vehicle out of the snow and helped it get turned around and headed back toward the highway. Dwight Yochim, a senior manager with British Columbia Search and Rescue, said he believes this is the “first use” of the new feature in British Columbia.

“There’s no cell service there but one of them happened to have the new Apple phone that has the SOS in it and activated the SOS and to my knowledge, that’s the first use of the SOS in British Columbia. If they didn’t have this, what would have happened is eventually the family or their work would have said “hey, they didn’t show up” and so the search area would have been from wherever they were last seen to where they’re supposed to be, and that could have been several hundred kilometres.”

For context, Yochim estimates that his team does around 1,700 to 1,800 searches a year. Emergency SOS via satellite on the iPhone 14 can significantly cut down on the number.

RELATED:

(via)

The post Apple’s Emergency SOS Via Satellite Feature Saves Two Lives in Canada! appeared first on Gizmochina.

Qualcomm Snapdragon Satellite Brings Emergency Messaging Service To Android Smartphones

Jeet — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 03:24:35 +0000

Qualcomm has partnered with Iridium for a new service announced at CES 2023, dubbed Qualcomm Snapdragon Satellite, which will add new functionality to Android smartphones.

As the name itself indicates, it brings support for satellite communication during emergencies, a feature similar to what Apple recently introduced as Emergency SOS via Satellite.

The Snapdragon Satellite feature will be available in smartphones that pack Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and the Snapdragon X70 modem system, along with some additional radios.

The company says that smartphones with support for this new feature should be launched in select regions starting in the second half of this year. It added that there are several manufacturers working on adding this feature to their devices.

It’s likely that Snapdragon Satellite will be limited to premium flagship smartphones as the company is only supporting its flagship processor and modem for now. Companies that want to add it to their phones will work directly with Qualcomm without having to build new relationships with Iridium.

Initially, the feature will be limited to use in emergency situations, allowing users to contact someone for help even in a remote area without cell service. When the user sends an SOS, “response coordinators immediately see the customer’s Latitude/Longitude in their proprietary mapping and response coordination software to determine the appropriate agency to coordinate the rescue.”

Qualcomm says that it will eventually support “premium messaging,” which will likely cost extra and will have to be implemented by OEMs, cell carriers, or other over-the-top service providers.

When it’s available, users will be able to use the service with the existing phone numbers. The company says that the emergency service will be free or very cheap, but it hasn’t provided any details about the pricing.

Apple’s Satellite Plans Could Extend Beyond Emergencies

Oğuz Çakır — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:18:40 +0000

Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, which allows users to send text messages to emergency services in areas with no cellular or WiFi coverage, has been expanded to four new countries. The service launched in the US and Canada last month and was recently extended to the UK, France, Germany, and Ireland. More countries are expected to be added in the future. But Apple’s plans go beyond that.

Apple satellite plans could go further than emergency services

While the emergency service is currently limited to text-based communications, a patent granted on the same day suggests that Apple’s plans for satellite communications may extend beyond emergency use. The patent describes how the company could use satellite comms for voice, video, and other media data. Here’s how Apple describes its new patent:

“If a user is not able to reach emergency services because no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage is available, an easy-to-use interface appears on iPhone to get the user help utilizing a satellite connection. A short questionnaire appears to help the user answer vital questions with a few simple taps, which is transmitted to dispatchers in the initial message, to ensure they are able to quickly understand a user’s situation and location…

Following the questionnaire, the intuitive interface guides the user where to point their iPhone to connect and sends the initial message. This message includes the user’s questionnaire responses; location, including altitude; iPhone battery level; and Medical ID, if enabled. The questionnaire and follow-up messages are relayed directly via satellite to dispatchers that accept text messages, or to relay centers staffed by Apple‑trained specialists who can call for help on the user’s behalf. The transcript can also be shared with the user’s emergency contacts to keep them informed.”

Apple has currently committed $450m to support the satellite communications feature, a significant amount of money even by Apple’s standards for a service that will only be used by a small fraction of iPhone owners. However, if the service is the start of something bigger, then the investment could look rather modest.

Apple satellite communications technology is evolving from being used only by adventurers and yacht owners to being accessible to ordinary internet users. As such, there may be sense in Apple investing in the technology. Of course, as with all patents, it’s important to note that Apple patents many more ideas than ever make it into actual products and services.

Related

(via)

The post Apple’s Satellite Plans Could Extend Beyond Emergencies appeared first on Gizmochina.

ISRO LMV3 rocket launched with 36 OneWeb Satellites

Sean — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 09:39:53 +0000

Earlier this week, ISRO announced that it had successfully launched the LMV3 rocket, which carried a payload that consisted of 36 satellites from OneWeb. The launch was carried out by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

The rocket was also deployed from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India. With this launch, ISRO and NSIL have deployed one of the biggets commercial orders by India’s space organization. Notably, it was also one of the heaviest rockets launched by ISRO. The lift off was done on 23rd October 2022 and the rocket carried a total of 36 OneWeb Gen-1 satellites of about 150 kilograms each. In other words, the total payload had a total weight of 5,796 kilograms.

These satellites were launched to a circular low earth orbit of around 601 kilometers with an 87.4 degree inclination. The separation of the satellites also involved a unique maneuver of the cryogenic stage to orientation and re-orientation. The entire process consisted of 9 phases and took around 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete. After this, OneWeb confirmed that it had started receiving signals from the satellites. The company also took to Twitter to announce the successful lift off and launch from ISRO and NSIL.

Notably, this marks the 14th launch from OneWeb, which brings its satellite constellation size to 462. This means that it has reached 70 percent of its goal to launch around 648 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites fleet that will deliver high peed low latency connectivity across the globe. OneWeb now only needs to go through four more launches to achieve its global coverage plan by 2023. Interestingly enough, OneWeb’s biggest investor is also Bharti Gobal, which is India’s largest telecom operator.

RELATED:

The post ISRO LMV3 rocket launched with 36 OneWeb Satellites appeared first on Gizmochina.

ISRO to launch 36 Satellites for OneWeb later this month

Sean — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 10:43:17 +0000

The ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) had announced earlier this week that it would be launching the first batch of the 36 satellites for OneWeb around the end of this month.

Notably, this news arrives just weeks after the OneWeb satellites arrived in India for this launch mission. As per the official announcement, ISRO will be launching the first batch of the 36 satellites by the third or fourth week of October 2022. The news arrives after the geopolitical conflict that between Russia and Ukraine, which saw a batch of 36 OneWeb satellites held hostage by Roscosmos, a Russian state backed space agency.

On the other hand, OneWeb had signed a deal with both SpaceX and ISRO to launch the rest of its planned 648 satellites into orbit. Furthermore, these satellites are set to be launched as a part of its global satellite internet network. Once all of these satellites are in orbit, they will be fly in a relay configuration and will cover the entire world. This network would also offer internet connectivity, mainly to various companies across the globe.

The connectivity offered will be used for a wide range of applications ranging from data analytics for agriculture, forestry and mining, and even for backhaul bandwidth for telecom based companies as well to help supplement their terrestrial networks. Interestingly, OneWeb is also being backed by Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel, and will soon rival other industry giants like Jio-SES and Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the satellite internet market.

RELATED:

The post ISRO to launch 36 Satellites for OneWeb later this month appeared first on Gizmochina.

Huawei Mate 50 series teaser confirms support for Satellite Communication

Jeet — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 02:14:19 +0000

Huawei is gearing up to launch its next-generation Mate-series flagship smartphones in the form of the Huawei Mate 50 lineup, even though the company is pretty much out of the game when it comes to premium devices because of the US-imposed sanctions.

But that isn’t stopping the Chinese giant from offering unique and innovative features to its smartphones. In the latest teaser shared by Huawei, it has been confirmed that the Mate 50 series smartphones will have support for satellite communication.

In a teaser video shared by the company showing a satellite getting launched, Huawei says that the signal goes beyond the ground and the device is always connected for communication. This pretty much confirms that the upcoming premium phones from the company will come with support for satellite communication feature.

Based on the rumors and previous leaks, it is being said that the satellite communication feature in the Huawei Mate 50 series will provide an emergency messaging service supported by the Beidou system.

The development comes after Huawei was granted a patent for “Method and Device for Satellite Communication,” and the company has also applied for several other patents related to this technology.

Huawei isn’t the only company working on offering satellite communication feature on its smartphones. Apple has also been working on something similar, which was expected to make its debut with the upcoming iPhone 14. The feature, named “Emergency Message via Satellite,” will reportedly be integrated into the Messages application as a third option along with SMS and iMessage.

The Huawei Mate 50 series flagship smartphones are set to go official in the Chinese market tomorrow, i.e. on 6th September. The devices will also come with support for better photography and will be equipped with Huawei Imaging XMAGE. The smartphones are expected to come running the company’s own HarmonyOS 3.0 operating system.

Apple iPhone 14 may feature Satellite Connectivity for emergencies

Sean — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 08:05:51 +0000

A new rumor has just surfaced regarding the Apple iPhone 14 series. Apparently, the company’s latest generation of smartphones that will be launching later this year will come with satellite connectivity options for emergency scenarios.

Recently, we had even reported on the Cupertino based giant possibly working on a similar satellite feature for its Apple Watch. The primary reason for the inclusion of this system is to allow users to send messages or reach out to emergency services in cases of an actual emergency. This system will reportedly include an “Emergency Message via Contacts” for sending short messages in areas that do not have cellular signals.

In other words, it appears that the brand is looking to include this feature in its other products as well. Interestingly, the iPhone 13 series was also rumored to come with such technology as well, although, this was skipped on the 2021 iPhone. So, it is entirely possible that we won’t see this feature appear on the iPhone 14 lineup as well. Although, the latest news from Mark Gurman says otherwise.

Through satellite connectivity, users would be able to send text messages or SOS responses via a satellite network to report on accidents, similar to the one on the brand’s smartwatch. All in all, this will just be quite a bit helpful for Apple customers that find themselves stuck in certain worst case scenarios, and potentially even save lives.

Elon Musk’s Starlink may have lost 40 satellites due to a geomagnetic storm

Sean — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:07:16 +0000

Starlink, the internet service provider from Tesla & SpaceX founder Elon Musk, has apparently lost a number of its satellites following a geomagnetic storm, with around 40 being destroyed.

According to an official blog post, the company stated that around 40 of its 49 Starlink satellites that were launched on 3rd February 2022 have been destroyed because of the geomagnetic storm. This storm has caused “up to 50 percent higher drag than during previous launches,” which prevented the newly launched satellites from reaching their optimal orbit around the Earth. Despite Starlink’s best efforts of reducing damages, 40 of the satellites ended up burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere and were unable to reach their proper destination.

For those unaware, SpaceX’s ISP unit had recently announced that it has sent more than 2,000 satellites and had planned to launch over 12,000 more. So while the loss of 40 might not impact the overall figure, it is still quite an expensive loss, with almost all of the Falcon 9 rocket’s payload being destroyed. Interestingly, the company took this chance to also showcase the minute impact that its satellites cause in the skies.

Space debris and clutter has been a growing concern in recent years, with Starlink’s satellites also facing criticism due to plans to launch thousands of satellites. Apart from this, astronomers had also called out the brand for disrupting images of the night sky since these satellite end up leaving streaks across space images. This means that it is harder for astronomers to detect possibly dangerous asteroids.

Elon Musk & SpaceX faces criticism after its satellites nearly crash into Chinese space station

Sean — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 11:09:11 +0000

Elon Musk and SpaceX have recently come under fire from Chinese citizens, with people criticizing the individual and his space faring company online. The latest backlash in China arrives after its satellites nearly crashed into the Chinese space station.

According to a CNBC report, SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk are being criticized after satellites from Starlink Internet Services had two near misses with the Chinese space station earlier this year. For those unaware, Starlink is an ISP (Internet Service Provider) unit of SpaceX. The news of the near crashes arrives after China recently submitted a document to the UN space agency earlier this month.

In the document published on the website of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, China stated that “For safety reasons, the China Space Station implemented preventive collision avoidance control.” Unfortunately, the validity of the claim is yet to be confirmed and SpaceX has yet to respond to this matter publicly. Weibo users (a Chinese microblogging website similar to Twitter) even began criticizing the company, with one calling Starlink’s satellites “just a pile of space junk,” while another called it “American space warfare weapons.”

Over the years, the number of space debris and artificial satellites that are orbiting the Earth has grown. Thus, scientists have urged various governments to share data to reduce the risk of any dangerous accidents caused by potential collisions. As of right now, SpaceX alone has deployed nearly 2,000 satellites for its Starlink internet service. Notably, the latest backlash also arrives as Elon Musk’s Tesla has recently been caught up with a number of issues in China. These range from security risks to lawsuits over false advertising among others.

Starlink registers Indian subsidiary company to launch its internet service

Jeet — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 14:42:05 +0000

Starlink, which is a part of the SpaceX company led by Elon Musk, has registered its business in India as the company is preparing to apply for licenses from the local government for the internet service business.

Sanjay Bhargava, the country director for Starlink in India said: “SpaceX now has a 100 percent owned subsidiary in India. The name is SSCPL – Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited and the incorporation date is Nov 1, 2021.”

He also confirmed that the company will now start applying for licenses to start its broadband services as it applies for regulatory approval. It intends to start its satellite-based broadband services next year and had taken orders from customers earlier this year.

Initially, the company will be focusing on offering its services in ten rural Lok Sabha constituencies. The company claims the service is “ideally suited” in areas where connectivity is “unreliable or completely unavailable”.

Starlink is planning to offer 200,000 active terminals in over 160,000 districts by December 2022. It remains to be seen if the company is able to achieve that because the track record paints a different picture. As of August this year, the company had shipped 100,000 user terminals in 14 countries.

Sanjay Bhargava, a former PayPal executive, was hired to lead the India division of Starlink in October this year. Apart from him, the company has hired several key executives in India in recent months, including Parnil Urdhwareshe, who was previously overseeing AMD’s policy efforts in India.

For those who are unaware, Starlink is launching small satellites to build a low-Earth orbiting network to provide low-latency broadband internet services. It is aiming to serve rural communities in India and is working with Niti Aayog, an Indian think tank, to identify 12 districts in the country for the company’s initial deployment.

Huawei Mate 50 rumored to feature satellite connectivity support for SMS messaging

Jeet — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 04:51:11 +0000

Huawei has been a dominating player in the smartphone maker for years but that is no longer the case. Although the company has been struggling to get a foothold after getting sanctioned by the United States, it is still trying.

The Chinese tech giant is now gearing up to launch a new flagship smartphone, dubbed Huawei Mate 50. While some details about the device have already been leaked, the latest rumor is about a unique feature of the smartphone.

A Weibo user has tipped (via GizChina) that the upcoming Huawei Mate 50 smartphone will come with support for satellite connectivity when the cellular network isn’t available. The satellite connectivity will be used to communicate via short message service (SMS) in a situation where a cellular network isn’t an option.

For this, the company has reportedly opted for the Beidou Satellite System. It is being reported that because of this new feature addition, the launch of the upcoming flagship smartphone from Huawei has been delayed.

It makes sense for the company to add this unique feature to the Mate series devices given that the Huawei Mate lineup, the second flagship series of the Chinese giant, usually comes packed with the most advanced technology available.

The satellite communication feature proves that Huawei is still trying to innovate in the smartphone space and hasn’t given up on the mobile phone business despite being severely restricted by the United States sanctions. But do note that the satellite communication feature isn’t confirmed by Huawei and it currently looks like speculation.

The Huawei P50 series smartphones, which are usually launched in the first quarter of the year, have been delayed and are now expected to get launched this month. Because of this, the Mate 50 lineup is now expected to get launched in the first half of 2022.

Apple is also expected to add satellite communication support for the iPhones using which users can text first responders and report incidents such as plane crashes, sinking boats, fires, and more. The feature, which is likely to be called “Emergency Message via Satellite” would be integrated into the Messages app as a third option after SMS and iMessage and would be identified by a gray text bubble.

Huawei to reportedly launch test satellites for 6G technology verification in July

Jeet — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 05:32:53 +0000

5G technology has now gone mainstream when it comes to offering support on consumer electronics like smartphones, although the deployment of 5G infrastructure is still limited to developed countries online while developing nations are working towards it.

As 5G communication technology has reached the milestone, companies have now started working on the next-generation technology — 6G. One of the leaders in this segment, the Chinese giant Huawei, is now moving towards the next step.

Report coming from China, citing Chang’an Shumajun as source who has close ties to Huawei, says that Huawei is all set to launch two satellites together with partnership of two Chinese companies in July this year. It aims to verify the 6G network technologies that the company has developed.

With the launch of satellites for the 6G verification, Huawei will have a major lead in the Research & Development globally for the 6G technology. The launch will be a joint effort from Huawei, China Mobile, and a national space firm. This will have a great significance for China’s core technologies such as networking and switching.

Experts believe that the 6G technology will be 50 times after than 5G. Compared with the construction of 5G networks that rely on base stations to transmit signals, 6G networks, conveying higher frequencies, need using satellite for communications instead of base stations where there will be low penetrability.

Xu Zhijun, rotating chairman of Huawei, announced earlier this month that the tech giant will launch its 6G networks in 2030, and it will release a 6G-related white paper soon to explain to the industry what 6G technology is.

China is the leader when it comes to the 5G footprint around the world and is likely to have a further lead with 6G development efforts. It’s impressive to see that China as well as Huawei moving ahead even at times when there are significant restrictions due to the sanctions from the United States.