Apple invests $450 million toward satellite connectivity infrastructure for Emergency SOS – Times of India
Apple has announced an investment of $450 million toward the satellite connectivity infrastructure to enable its Emergency SOS feature, with most of the amount going into Globalstar, a US-based satellite communications company.
Part of Apple’s Advanced Manufacturing Fund, the investment will enable the satellite communications company to update its critical infrastructure, including its satellite network and on-ground communication centres. Some 300 employees at Globalstar have been tasked to support the Emergency SOS service.
Once live, Apple’s “Emergency SOS via satellite” will let users of iPhone 14 Pro models share a short text with emergency responders when out of cellular or WiFi coverage. The service will first go live in the US and Canada. The Cupertino giant plans to offer it as a free service for the first two years, requiring a paid subscription later.
The service will operate on the spectrum in L and S bands, made specifically for mobile satellite services, as defined by ITU Radio Regulations.
“The launch of Emergency SOS via satellite direct to iPhone is a generational advancement in satellite communications, and we are proud that Globalstar’s satellites and spectrum assets will play a central role in saving lives,” said Jay Monroe, Globalstar’s executive chairman.
Whenever an iPhone user makes an SOS request via satellite, the message is received by one of 24 satellites of Globalstar travelling in low-earth orbit. Then the message is sent to one of the on-ground stations located across the world. Upon receiving the message, the ground station routes the message to local emergency services or a relay centre with Apple-trained emergency specialists.
Apart from contacting emergency services, iPhone users can also share their live location using the Find My app, with the help of satellite, when out of coverage.
The on-ground stations have been equipped with new high-power antennas to receive the signals transmitted by satellites, designed and manufactured specifically for Apple by Cobham Satcom. These new antennas have also been installed in new ground stations in Nevada and Hawaii.
Part of Apple’s Advanced Manufacturing Fund, the investment will enable the satellite communications company to update its critical infrastructure, including its satellite network and on-ground communication centres. Some 300 employees at Globalstar have been tasked to support the Emergency SOS service.
Once live, Apple’s “Emergency SOS via satellite” will let users of iPhone 14 Pro models share a short text with emergency responders when out of cellular or WiFi coverage. The service will first go live in the US and Canada. The Cupertino giant plans to offer it as a free service for the first two years, requiring a paid subscription later.
The service will operate on the spectrum in L and S bands, made specifically for mobile satellite services, as defined by ITU Radio Regulations.
“The launch of Emergency SOS via satellite direct to iPhone is a generational advancement in satellite communications, and we are proud that Globalstar’s satellites and spectrum assets will play a central role in saving lives,” said Jay Monroe, Globalstar’s executive chairman.
Whenever an iPhone user makes an SOS request via satellite, the message is received by one of 24 satellites of Globalstar travelling in low-earth orbit. Then the message is sent to one of the on-ground stations located across the world. Upon receiving the message, the ground station routes the message to local emergency services or a relay centre with Apple-trained emergency specialists.
Apart from contacting emergency services, iPhone users can also share their live location using the Find My app, with the help of satellite, when out of coverage.
The on-ground stations have been equipped with new high-power antennas to receive the signals transmitted by satellites, designed and manufactured specifically for Apple by Cobham Satcom. These new antennas have also been installed in new ground stations in Nevada and Hawaii.
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