Apple and Elon Musk butt heads over satellite network growth

Elon Musk
Apple and Elon Musk are locking horns as the tech giant aims to erase cellphone dead zones using satellite technology. The iPhone manufacturer is pouring significant resources into satellite-driven communication systems to ensure users stay connected in areas beyond the reach of conventional wireless networks. Meanwhile, Musk’s SpaceX has deployed over 550 Starlink satellites to deliver cellphone coverage from orbit. The two companies are now vying for scarce spectrum rights—essential airwaves needed to transmit their signals—intensifying the rivalry. According to insiders, Apple’s space ventures have sparked frustration from Musk, with SpaceX urging federal regulators to delay an Apple-backed satellite expansion project.
Drew FitzGerald, Micah Maidenberg, and Keach Hagey for The Wall Street Journal:
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The conflict intensified in recent months after SpaceX and its partner, T-Mobile, sought Apple’s cooperation to offer Starlink on iPhones, some of the people said. The companies engaged in tense discussions and eventually reached an agreement that allows the SpaceX and T-Mobile satellite cellphone service, which will debut this summer, to appear seamlessly on newer iPhones. Apple retains tight control over the iPhone’s largely closed software ecosystem.
Offering greater connectivity in hard-to-reach areas could spur more iPhone sales or greater adoption of SpaceX’s Starlink. In some ways, the companies need one another to pursue their respective strategies. Globalstar—Apple’s partner in offering satellite service—has hired SpaceX to launch the satellites that provide Apple’s off-the-grid connectivity to iPhones. And SpaceX and T-Mobile need Apple’s help to ensure their product is easy to use on the iPhone.
Apple and SpaceX executives have had on-and-off-again conversations about directly linking iPhones with SpaceX satellites, but no such deal materialized.
Apple last year invested more than $1 billion in the satellite-operator Globalstar, which supports the technology giant’s in-house satellite connection feature on iPhones… SpaceX recently asked the Federal Communications Commission to dismiss a Globalstar application seeking permission to use certain spectrum for the new network of Apple-financed satellites, documents show. It called the airwaves it uses to carry Apple users’ emergency signals an underused resource.

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MacDailyNews Take: With the new iOS 18.3 update last month, Apple began supporting third-party satellite networks that are managed by cellular carriers including T-Mobile US Inc.’s rollout of SpaceX’s Starlink service.

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