The iPhone 13 are just around the corner, with a presentation date expected on September 14 and sale the following week. Although a minor evolution is expected with respect to the iPhone 12 family, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo points to an important novelty for the new iPhone 13.
It refers to satellite connectivity, technology that would allow the iPhone 13 call without network coverage. Kuo is one of the historically most reliable analysts regarding Apple, although, for the moment, the company has not confirmed this information about its new phones.
Satellite communication for iPhone 13
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 13 will connect to low-orbit satellites. These types of satellites, such as SpaceX’s Starlink, offer direct communication so devices can have connectivity, all without depending on terrestrial antennas (3G, 4G, 5G).
The iPhone 13, according to the analyst, will be able to have calls and data thanks to low Earth orbit satellites
To achieve this, a Qualcomm modem would be used, customized by Apple to take connectivity a little further. At the moment this connectivity is not confirmed although, if fulfilled, the iPhone 13 would be one of the few phones on the market to allow satellite connection.
The analyst also indicates that the impact on the industry would be great, “similar to what happened with mmWave 5G”. During the last years, manufacturers have followed Apple in some of its movements, so the implementation of satellite communication could become a standard, at least in the high-end range.
Via | The iPhone 13 will be able to call and have data without coverage thanks to the satellite connection, according to Kuo