① China will soon launch consumer-grade satellite Internet products to the market. The company will launch an aviation satellite Internet product traffic package with the Internet speed equivalent to 4G smoothness. ② Musk and its SpaceX have successfully posted posts on social platforms through a direct connection to a mobile satellite. ③ Qualcomm's new flagship 5G modem supports satellite communication, and both new Huawei and Xiaomi products support two-way satellite messaging.
“Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily”, Feb. 27 — China is about to launch consumer-grade satellite internet products to the market. As China's satellite Internet operator, China Satellite Communications will provide more consumer-grade satellite Internet products to the market, and United Airlines will launch an aviation satellite Internet product traffic package.
At the press conference of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd. on February 26, according to experts from China's Satellite Communications Marketing Department, in-flight passengers can check Internet flights in advance and easily purchase satellite internet data packages via the Internet. Passengers can use their mobile phones or other terminals in the air to connect to the in-flight Wi-Fi to smoothly watch videos, browse websites, and watch sporting events in real time. The internet speed is equivalent to the smooth level of 4G.
On the other side of the ocean, on February 26, local time, Musk's SpaceX successfully posted the first post from space to the social networking platform X via a direct connection to a mobile phone satellite.
Musk retweeted the post and said, “This tweet was sent directly via a regular phone directly connected to a SpaceX satellite, without any other devices in between.”
On the same day, at the 2024 Mobile World Congress (MWC), which is regarded as the “global mobile communications industry trend vane,” Qualcomm unveiled its latest flagship 5G modem, the Snapdragon X80, which integrates AI technology to support satellite communications. This is the first modem to integrate narrowband (NB) to non-terrestrial network (NTN) satellite communication support. It is equipped with a dedicated AI processor and integrates the third-generation 5GAI kit.
In terms of terminals, on February 22, Huawei and Xiaomi held a press conference. Huawei released a new compact folding flagship phone, the Pocket 2, and Xiaomi released the new 14 Ultra. The former is equipped with Lingxi Communications and supports two-way Beidou satellite messaging; the latter supports two-way satellite communication, including real-time voice and two-way SMS.
The February 25 report of Great Wall Securities pointed out that with the rapid development of mobile phone direct satellite technology and accelerated penetration into mobile phone publishing application scenarios, innovative applications of mobile phone direct satellite technology are expected to be implemented at an accelerated pace, help accelerate the development of satellite internet-related industries, and are optimistic about investment opportunities for satellite Internet applications.
It is worth mentioning that the world's first 5G space-earth integrated evolution technology verification satellite was successfully put into orbit on February 3, and China has achieved the latest results in this field. Both space-borne network devices are based on domestic software and hardware, have autonomous controllability, and are test systems developed using 3GPP NTN mobile phone direct connection satellite technology. The integration of space and earth is an important direction for future network evolution. Compared with other technical routes, the 3GPP standard has a broad industrial base and great potential for continuous evolution.
Guoyuan Securities believes that future satellites, as infrastructure, will rely on communication, navigation, and remote sensing technology to achieve comprehensive satellite network solutions. At the same time, along with technological innovation, various payloads and sensors can be equipped, and the functions of space mobile towers can be realized, which is an important foundation for “space and earth integration” in the future.
Analysts further stated that satellite internet, as an important direction in the telecommunication, guidance, and remote satellite industry, will rely on the accumulation of technology in the entire satellite industry in recent years to achieve rapid breakthroughs in technology and cost, and enter a golden period of rapid development.