Will the iPhone 18 Pro have satellite 5G thanks to Starlink?

According to recent rumors circulating online, Apple has reportedly begun advanced negotiations with SpaceX to integrate the Starlink satellite network directly into the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro.

The Cupertino company would like to offer a “direct-to-cell” connectivity capable of bringing fast internet everywhere, without the need for additional hardware or bulky external accessories for the end user.

Apple and SpaceX in negotiations for satellite internet on the iPhone 18 Pro?

To date, Apple has relied on Globalstar to ensure the “SOS Emergencies” service, a lifesaving feature that allows iPhone users to contact emergency services or share their location even in the absence of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.

Although Apple has invested about $2 billion in Globalstar in recent years to support this infrastructure, the relationship between the two companies seems to have reached a crossroads.

James Monroe, president of Globalstar, has recently discussed the possibility of selling the company for an amount exceeding $10 billion, amid the growing dominance of Starlink in the sector.

Although a direct acquisition by Apple may seem a logical solution on paper, the reality is very different: the Cupertino giant has no intention of being regulated like a traditional mobile operator, which is why so far it has never charged users directly for satellite services.

This reluctance to acquire Globalstar’s infrastructure has created the ideal space for the entry of a more powerful and pervasive partner like SpaceX.

Towards borderless 5G

According to The Information, talks with Elon Musk’s company aim to bring satellite connectivity to a higher level on the models iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. It would no longer be just sending brief emergency messages, but accessing a true satellite 5G internet.

To corroborate this, the authoritative voice of Mark Gurman of Bloomberg also weighs in, according to whom future iPhones will support the Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) 5G technology. This standard would allow cellular towers to use satellites to extend their coverage to remote or “white” areas.

Apple plans to go beyond mere hardware, working on the development of dedicated APIs that would allow third-party developers to integrate these satellite connectivity features directly into their applications.

The Strength of Starlink

From an infrastructural standpoint, SpaceX is gearing up for this deal with massive investments. The company has recently acquired EchoStar’s wireless spectrum for $17 billion, a fundamental strategic move to deliver faster internet services directly to smartphones.

Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, also confirmed that the company is actively collaborating with chip manufacturers to integrate satellite connectivity at the hardware level into mobile devices.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recently authorized SpaceX to operate up to 15,000 second-generation satellites (Gen2).

These satellites not only offer twenty times higher throughput and reduced latency, but they are specifically designed to connect to unmodified mobile phones.

Additionally, they have greater orbital maneuverability and autonomous systems to avoid collisions, ensuring a more stable and secure network.