(Credit: MDA Space)
It looks like Apple is preparing to boost the iPhone's satellite connectivity capabilities with more than 50 new satellites that will circle the Earth at a low orbit.
On Monday, Canada-based MDA Space revealed it had signed a $1.1 billion contract with Globalstar, the US satellite communications provider that has partnered with Apple. The contract calls for MDA, a satellite technology developer, to be the "prime contractor" for a new low-Earth orbiting constellation from Globalstar.
Specifically, the Canadian company will manufacture more than 50 satellites using its Aurora technology line, which is designed to "extend communication networks to every corner of the globe, no matter how remote or underserved."
The exact capabilities of those satellites are unclear, but last year, MDA announced Aurora as a way for clients to build cutting-edge communications satellites "optimized for digital payloads and high-volume manufacturing." Today, CEO MDA Mike Greenley said, "With the full contract now in place, we are moving full speed ahead on the program."
In November, Globalstar quietly revealed it had received a $1.1 billion investment from Apple to "deliver expanded services" to iPhones through a "new satellite constellation."
So far, Globalstar hasn’t commented on the contract or revealed the exact orbits of the upcoming constellation. But it offers a glimpse at how Globalstar and Apple envision upgrading the satellite capabilities for future iPhones. Globalstar currently has 58 operational satellites in orbit, according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell’s stats. In 2022, the company also signed a separate contract with MDA to acquire 17 satellites to replenish its fleet.
The news arrives amid growing competition in the market for satellite-to-phone connectivity, which lets users receive a signal in cellular dead zones. T-Mobile is partnering with SpaceX on a cellular Starlink service that works on handsets, including Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices. On Sunday, the carrier opened its beta program for cellular Starlink to all US users, regardless of carrier.