- SpaceX will apparently block Globalstars access to some satellite frequencies
- Globalstar receives Apple financing to help expand iPhone’s satellite features
- Apple and SpaceX may have previously failed to enter into an agreement on a collaboration
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Apple are allegedly in a spit that can eventually lead to stained signals for services such as Starlink and iPhone Satellite Communication or a homogeneous monopolistic satellite service – none of them would be good for anyone.
The report comes from the Wall Street Journal (behind a Paywall) that says sources familiar with the case claim that SpaceX is pushing US federal regulators not to allow Apple-funded satellite service Globalstar to expand its use of limited satellite radio frequencies.
This comes after SpaceX and Apple have reportedly been in conversations to collaborate more on Apple’s growing satellite communication service, but with conversations ending without direct agreement-in the place, SpaceX and T-Mobile will be able to offer their alternative to Apple’s satellite service on iPhones (with the service due to debut this summer).
Instead, Apple wants to rely on non-SpaceX networks to support its own satellite communication features-but if Musk’s company gets its way, Apple may be able to fight to expand without SpaceX’s support.
Reach out to the stars
As a quick and simple explanation: All satellites send signals to the Earth using radio frequencies, and to ensure that the service — the pavement will licenses specific frequencies within the radio spectrum on a regional basis. This is to ensure that two companies with satellites operating in the same place do not get their signals together that are together because they are trying to use the same frequency.
SpaceX (or any other satellite company) would like to try to check as many of these frequencies as possible because it allows it to send more data or send data faster – which ultimately leads to a better service for its customers.
But a company that locks too many frequencies in a region prevents other companies from being able to offer satellite services there – leading to frustrating dead zones – or forcing them to offer a worse service there because they can only use a limited bond of frequencies. For consumers, it can also lead to price trends, as the service that is most (or total) satellite signal control can charge what it wants.
This latest competition for satellite frequencies will probably not be the last, but it highlights a problem with this important communication limit.
Getting reliable Internet and signal service for external services can only be a good thing – as we’ve already seen by people using their iPhone’s Emergency SOS via satellite tool to call for help when they had no other option – but if it wasn’t handled with care, we could end up with an overly broken network or one that is controlled by a lucky few.
