Apple’s ambitious push to eliminate cell phone dead zones through expanded satellite coverage is facing fierce resistance from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, as a power struggle intensifies over control of orbital connectivity. At the heart of the dispute is Apple’s collaboration with Globalstar to enhance its satellite capabilities—an effort that directly competes with SpaceX’s growing Starlink network.
According to sources familiar with the matter, tensions between the tech giants have escalated after failed negotiations to integrate Starlink connectivity directly into iPhones. Talks between Apple and SpaceX reportedly collapsed without a formal agreement, prompting both sides to pursue separate paths in the race to dominate space-based communications.
SpaceX, in partnership with T-Mobile, is now moving ahead with plans to provide satellite services to smartphones—including Apple devices—bypassing Apple’s traditionally closed hardware ecosystem. Meanwhile, Apple continues to work with Globalstar, a longtime satellite partner, to expand its own satellite network and strengthen connectivity for iPhone users, especially in remote or underserved areas.
The competition has now reached U.S. federal regulators. SpaceX is reportedly lobbying to limit Apple’s Globalstar expansion by challenging their access to key radio frequencies. All satellites rely on radio frequencies to transmit data to Earth. However, when too many systems attempt to use the same frequency, signals can become congested, degrading communication and slowing data speeds.
Control over radio frequencies has become a strategic asset. The more bandwidth a provider controls, the more data it can transmit—and the faster and more reliable the service becomes. But when a single company dominates those frequencies in a particular region, it can crowd out competitors, reduce service options, and potentially create communication blackouts in unprofitable areas.
This control also raises concerns about consumer pricing. A dominant satellite provider could raise rates with little resistance, especially if alternative services are pushed out of the market due to bandwidth restrictions.
As Apple and SpaceX battle for supremacy in space-based mobile connectivity, the outcome could reshape the future of global communications—impacting everything from emergency response in rural areas to the price of everyday mobile data.
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