Satellites for iPhones: Globalstar approves the construction of a new generation

The satellite network operator Globalstar has commissioned the Canadian company MDA Space to build the “next generation of the LEO constellation”. LEO stands for Low Earth Orbit. The total contract value amounts to 1.1 billion Canadian dollars (CAD). MDA Space is to build a “next-generation LEO constellation” for this purpose. MDA did not provide any details about the satellites, called Aurora, except for the detail that they will be equipped with “software-defined radios”.

The partners are thus implementing a preliminary contract drawn up in November 2023, in which MDA was not yet allowed to disclose the name of the client. At that time, 350 million Canadian dollars had already been invested. Now around CAD 750 million will be added for a total of CAD 1.1 billion.

Mega constellation on the horizon

There is probably much more behind the sober figures and the brief description of the project than meets the eye. A little background: Globalstar currently operates a network of 25 LEO satellites, which belong to the second generation; the first generation was given too short a life due to technical defects, so it has now been scrapped and replaced. With the second generation, Globalstar supplies its satellite receivers and, since 2022, Apple's iPhones from model 14 upwards. In uncovered areas, it can be used to make emergency calls and send text messages.

At the end of October 2024, Apple invested USD 1.5 billion in Globalstar, which was only made public as part of a mandatory disclosure to the stock exchange. Apple acquired a 20 percent stake in Globalstar for 400 million US dollars. Apple added USD 1.1 billion on top as an upfront payment for “a new network for mobile satellite services, including a new satellite constellation with expanded ground infrastructure and MSS licensing”. Apple has also secured 85 percent of the satellite capacity for its use.

Registration with the Federal Network Agency

Neither Globalstar nor MDA, and certainly not Apple, have yet provided details on the “next-generation constellation”. However, there are some indications that this refers to a multi-orbital mega-constellation consisting of 3080 satellites in its final form. Globalstar already registered such a constellation with the German Federal Network Agency in 2020 and added a few details about the radio frequencies in the following years. This should allow Apple to catch up with competitors such as Starlink, AST SpaceMobile or SpaceSail via its partner Globalstar, which supply commercially available smartphones with broadband services in dead spots and also enable videotelephony, for example. AST, whose BlueBird satellites with 5G technology currently achieve up to 120 Mbit/s in tests with standard Android smartphones and Vodafone SIM cards, promises the most advanced technology to date.

Customers of T-Mobile USA (a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom) can already use the Starlink service, which delivers 18 Mbit/s at best and is based on modified LTE base stations, as part of an open beta test. AST SpaceMobile plans to start public operation with Vodafone, among others, at the turn of 2025/26. An overview of other current events relating to LEO satellites and smartphones will appear on page 44 of the upcoming issue of c't 05/2025.

(dz)