Podcast Episode
Apple has invested approximately one and a half billion dollars in Globalstar, including a one point one billion dollar cash infusion and a twenty percent equity stake. Globalstar now allocates eighty-five percent of its network capacity exclusively to Apple, suggesting the company is building serious infrastructure for expanded satellite services.
Apple is already testing a successor C3 modem expected in 2027, which the company hopes will surpass Qualcomm's modem capabilities entirely, coinciding with the end of their licensing agreement.
iPhone 18 Pro Could Get Full 5G Satellite Internet via Apple's Custom C2 Modem
February 11, 2026
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Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models may support 5G satellite internet connectivity through the company's next-generation C2 modem chip. A Chinese leaker claims the C2 will support NR-NTN standards, potentially enabling direct smartphone-to-satellite data transmission far beyond the emergency messaging currently available on iPhones.
Apple's Satellite Ambitions Take a Giant Leap
Apple is reportedly preparing to bring full 5G satellite internet capability to this year's iPhone 18 Pro models, powered by its next-generation C2 modem. According to Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital, the C2 chip will support NR-NTN, or New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks, a 3GPP standard that integrates 5G capabilities directly with satellite connectivity.From Emergency Texts to Satellite Internet
This represents a massive upgrade from current iPhone satellite features. Apple introduced Emergency SOS via Satellite with the iPhone 14 in 2022 through its partnership with Globalstar, but that service is limited to basic emergency messaging and roadside assistance. NR-NTN would enable direct data transmission from smartphones to low Earth orbit satellites, essentially treating satellites as distant mobile phone towers and allowing broader internet access in areas without any cellular coverage.Apple has invested approximately one and a half billion dollars in Globalstar, including a one point one billion dollar cash infusion and a twenty percent equity stake. Globalstar now allocates eighty-five percent of its network capacity exclusively to Apple, suggesting the company is building serious infrastructure for expanded satellite services.
The C2 Modem: Closing the Gap with Qualcomm
The C2 modem builds on Apple's first-generation C1 chip, which debuted in the iPhone 16e earlier in 2025. While the C1 established Apple's custom modem platform with improved power efficiency, it lacked mmWave 5G support. The C2 is expected to add mmWave capability, potentially pushing theoretical download speeds to six gigabits per second and approaching performance parity with Qualcomm's offerings.Apple is already testing a successor C3 modem expected in 2027, which the company hopes will surpass Qualcomm's modem capabilities entirely, coinciding with the end of their licensing agreement.
The Competitive Landscape
Apple is not alone in this space. Huawei has offered satellite calling on its Mate 60 Pro since 2023, and at CES 2026, Keysight Technologies and Samsung Electronics demonstrated live NR-NTN connectivity using Samsung's next-generation modem chipset. However, experts caution that widespread deployment of full satellite internet remains some way off, requiring massive infrastructure expansion and careful navigation of carrier relationships.Published February 11, 2026 at 8:31pm