Apple is reportedly working to expand the satellite communication capabilities of the upcoming iPhone 18, exploring deeper collaboration with both SpaceX’s Starlink and its long-standing partner Globalstar to extend connectivity to users worldwide. The initiative aims to make emergency communication — and potentially broader satellite-based data services — more accessible in regions with limited or unreliable mobile networks.
The move reflects Apple’s continued investment in satellite technology as a key pillar of its mobility strategy, following the successful rollout of Emergency SOS via satellite introduced with the iPhone 14. While Globalstar has served as Apple’s primary satellite partner since that feature’s debut, the potential integration of Starlink’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation could dramatically enhance both coverage and data throughput for future devices.
A Dual-Network Strategy for Global Reach
Sources familiar with the matter suggest Apple is evaluating a dual-network approach, combining Globalstar’s established satellite infrastructure with Starlink’s rapidly expanding network of LEO satellites. This would allow iPhone 18 models to dynamically select the most reliable signal depending on geography and conditions, ensuring continuous communication even in the most remote locations.
Globalstar has long provided narrowband capacity for Apple’s emergency messaging service, enabling short text transmissions without traditional cellular access. Starlink, by contrast, operates a much denser constellation designed for broadband data. Pairing the two could give Apple a path toward richer satellite experiences — potentially supporting limited data applications, such as map syncing or low-bandwidth messaging, without needing a terrestrial connection.
Although Apple has not officially confirmed such a partnership, discussions between Apple and SpaceX have reportedly intensified since 2024, when SpaceX began testing smartphone-compatible satellite links. The integration aligns with both companies’ shared interests: Apple’s focus on seamless user experience and SpaceX’s goal to scale Starlink into consumer-grade connectivity services.
Engineering Challenges and Integration
Expanding satellite connectivity into consumer hardware requires significant technical adaptation. Apple’s design philosophy prioritizes thinness and power efficiency, leaving limited space for high-gain antennas traditionally used in satellite devices. To overcome this, Apple’s hardware teams are said to be testing custom radio modules capable of dynamically switching between terrestrial 5G and satellite frequencies without requiring visible external components.
The company has also been investing heavily in modem development after years of reliance on Qualcomm chips. Its proprietary modem — still in late-stage testing — is expected to integrate more efficiently with satellite networks, enabling faster link acquisition and reduced latency. The new hardware could debut alongside the iPhone 18 lineup in late 2025, coinciding with the introduction of iOS features optimized for mixed-network operation.
From Emergency Use to Everyday Utility
The potential inclusion of Starlink connectivity represents a shift in Apple’s satellite ambitions — from an emergency-only function to a practical layer of global communication. While Emergency SOS remains a critical feature for safety, Apple appears to be exploring ways to make satellite connectivity more broadly useful, including navigation updates, device synchronization, and possibly even basic data messaging in low-signal areas.
This progression follows a familiar Apple pattern: introduce a safety-focused capability, refine its technology over several hardware generations, and eventually scale it into a mainstream service. The Vision Pro’s spatial networking features and Apple Watch’s low-power communication modes suggest that the company is building a unified framework for inter-device connectivity that could extend to orbit.
SpaceX’s Expanding Role in Mobile Communications
For SpaceX, collaboration with Apple would represent a validation of Starlink’s broader strategy to serve mobile users directly. The company has been testing direct-to-device communication since 2023, with plans to offer limited service to select handsets by 2026. Partnering with Apple — whose devices already account for a dominant share of the global smartphone market — would instantly accelerate adoption.
Starlink’s low-Earth orbit network currently includes more than 6,000 operational satellites, with thousands more scheduled for deployment by 2026. The constellation’s architecture allows for lower latency and higher bandwidth than traditional geostationary systems, making it particularly well-suited for integration with consumer electronics.
If Apple adopts Starlink alongside Globalstar, the iPhone 18 could become the first smartphone to support multi-operator satellite connectivity, giving users coverage across multiple orbital layers — a level of redundancy unmatched in current consumer devices.
Strategic Timing Ahead of iPhone 18 Launch
The timing of Apple’s satellite expansion aligns with its ongoing efforts to distinguish the iPhone 18 lineup amid intensifying competition in the premium smartphone market. Rivals including Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi have introduced their own satellite communication features in select models, though most remain limited to text-based emergency use.
By leveraging both Globalstar’s reliability and Starlink’s bandwidth, Apple could deliver a feature set that not only enhances safety but also enables continuous global connectivity for professionals, travelers, and outdoor users — without depending on traditional networks.
The integration of satellite communication could also extend beyond the iPhone. Analysts expect future Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac devices to adopt the same connectivity backbone, unified under Apple’s in-house modem and powered by its M-series chip architecture. This ecosystem approach mirrors Apple’s strategy in silicon and services: build vertical integration that spans across devices and user experiences.
For Apple, the move also carries strategic independence. By balancing partnerships with Globalstar and Starlink, the company ensures redundancy while reducing reliance on any single provider. It’s a model that could eventually evolve into a proprietary satellite network — one that supports future products like autonomous vehicle systems or global IoT connectivity.
If the iPhone 18 introduces Starlink-enabled connectivity, it would mark one of the most significant communication shifts in Apple’s history — comparable to the arrival of 3G on the iPhone 3G or 5G on the iPhone 12. The difference this time is that Apple’s innovation would extend above the atmosphere, blurring the line between mobile and orbital networks.
As the company prepares its next-generation lineup, its vision of always-on, borderless connectivity appears closer than ever. What began as an emergency lifeline could soon evolve into the next frontier of mobility — one powered by satellites circling just a few hundred kilometers above Earth, carrying the future of the iPhone’s connection to the world.
