Apple Inc. is looking to bring satellite communications to its smartwatch in 2025, according to a report from Bloomberg News.
It will be the first mainstream smartwatch with satellite abilities, the report said.
The satellite feature is expected to be on the smart device giant’s Apple Watch Ultra, allowing users to send messages without cellular or internet connection.
Apple has supported SATCOM through its iPhones since 2022 and invested $1.5 billion in Globalstar, a satellite provider, to fund the expansion of SATCOM services on smartphones.
Bloomberg said that the move would put pressure on other satellite communication devices that currently provide text-based connections without cellular service like Garmin’s inReach device.
Why it matters
SATCOM is rapidly becoming the next great wave of cellular communications with telecoms and mobile device vendors cutting deals and securing capacity for future space-based communications.
One of the major draws to SATCOM is the ability to provide always-on communication regardless of where cell towers or repeaters are located. This would include rural areas where minimal cell towers exist. It could also give these rural areas high-speed data via smartphones for the first time.
Additionally, it would provide always-on cellular connections for the military and emergency services particularly during natural disasters when the power goes out or cell towers are knocked down.
