iPhone might get satellite tv for pc 5G this 12 months, leaker claims

The iPhone was one of many first telephones to realize satellite tv for pc connectivity again with the launch of the iPhone 14 in 2022, however this characteristic was supposed primarily as an emergency measure. Break a leg or run out of water when climbing within the wilderness, and emergency SOS might save your life, however it wasn’t a lot assist for looking social media. However a extra accessible general-purpose satellite tv for pc characteristic could possibly be coming to the iPhone as quickly as this 12 months.

In a Weibo publish this week (by way of AppleInsider), leaker Fastened Focus Digital predicts that Apple’s C2 modem (which is anticipated to make its debut alongside the A20 processor within the iPhone 18 Professional this fall) “will help NR-NTN this 12 months.” That stands for New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks, and refers to a know-how that may join smartphones to the web by way of low-orbit satellites. This might imply you possibly can entry a 5G web connection nearly wherever on the planet, no matter your distance from a cell tower.

“Huawei acknowledged that it carried out public testing on the finish of final 12 months, and progress in China is at present slower, however there will probably be excellent news this 12 months, so hold a watch out,” Fastened Focus provides.

“From this attitude, 2026 seems to be a place to begin for satellite tv for pc web entry for varied cell phone producers.” And that, importantly for us, consists of Apple.

Whereas leakers on the Weibo social community should not all the time probably the most dependable, Fastened Focus is likely one of the extra respected names. They accurately predicted again in August that the iPhone Air would ship with an A19 Professional processor slightly than an A19, and as way back as April 2025 predicted an early-2026 launch for the iPhone 17e, which now appears extraordinarily seemingly.

What’s extra, this isn’t a brand new rumor. Final October, The Data reported that Apple had plans to help “5G networks that aren’t tethered to Earth’s floor” in an effort to “give the iPhone full web entry over satellite tv for pc.” And in November, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman corroborated The Data’s concept and agreed that the following era of iPhone would characteristic broader 5G NTN help.

On the time, there have been some doubts over the out there infrastructure, a lot as 5G protection lagged behind the provision of 5G telephones again in 2020. It wasn’t clear who would offer the satellite tv for pc service, even when the latest iPhones had the {hardware} to help it. However primarily based on Fastened Focus’s optimism, it seems like progress is being made on that entrance.

For all the newest information and rumors, bookmark our commonly up to date iPhone 18 megaguide. And if you happen to can’t wait till the autumn, ensure you get the most effective value on the present fashions with our roundup of the most effective iPhone offers.