[Digital Today intern reporter Kyeong-min Hong (홍경민)] Apple is expected to add satellite-based 5G communications to its next-generation iPhone series, stepping up its push toward a communications environment without ground base stations.

On Feb. 11, IT outlets 9to5Mac and PhoneArena report that Apple is expected to include hardware supporting 5G connectivity via satellite in the iPhone 18 Pro model due for release in 2026. The move is seen as an advance from the 'satellite-based emergency SOS' service first introduced in the iPhone 14 series in 2022. It is significant in that it lays a technical foundation for sending and receiving data by connecting directly to satellites without using ground antennas.

Apple has gradually expanded its satellite communications features. It began as a text-based emergency service and later widened its scope to include Roadside Assistance and messaging for family and acquaintances. Up to now, the service has offered limited speeds and features aimed at providing a safety net in remote areas due to the constraints of low-Earth-orbit satellites. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to become a major turning point that overcomes these limits in speed and capacity.

At the center of the change is a wireless chipset Apple is developing in-house. IT source Fixed Focus Digital said Apple's next-generation 'C2' modem, which will be applied for the first time to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, will support non-terrestrial networks technology, known as NR-NTN (New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks). NR-NTN is a key technology integrating 5G standards into a satellite environment. It is expected to enable iPhones to connect directly to the internet even in deserts or at sea where mobile networks do not reach, or to provide data communications that support carrier networks.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also mentioned that Apple is developing satellite-based 5G (Satellite over 5G) features. Gurman said the technology would go beyond emergency situations and be a way to dramatically expand coverage in areas with poor reception. In addition, Apple is said to be considering building a software ecosystem in line with hardware changes, including distributing a satellite communications API for developers, strengthening integration with its maps service, and enabling transmission of satellite images.

Despite the technological leap, challenges remain at the commercialisation stage. To stably implement high-speed satellite 5G anywhere in the world, broad infrastructure upgrades are essential, including the satellite network of Apple's current satellite partner, Globalstar. It also requires a sophisticated business strategy, including aligning interests with existing terrestrial-network-based mobile carriers and resetting partnerships.

In conclusion, the C2 modem and satellite 5G features expected for the iPhone 18 Pro are more likely to start as advanced tools to supplement connectivity in disaster situations or in polar regions, rather than immediately replacing existing networks entirely. Over the longer term, considering Apple's strategic direction to reduce reliance on terrestrial base stations and secure influence over its own communications infrastructure, this technology adoption is seen as an important milestone that could reshape the future communications market.