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Subscribers of Chinese satellite services can use smartphones, supporting satellite-based connectivity, to communicate with anyone in the region
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The development of the devices to support satellite communications coupled with technological advancements are a gamechanger
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While global, the ecosystem is developing in favor of LEOs, China is betting in favor of GSOs
Chinese scientists have developed a sustainable way to enable calls between smartphones and satellites without using the terrestrial network. This project, called Project Tiantong, which means "connecting with heaven" and draws inspiration from the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, could be set to disrupt the Chinese service provider market as it can provide affordable connectivity to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
According to media reports, the project was initiated in 2008 by the Chinese Government after the massive earthquake in Sichuan in order to facilitate communication through satellite. Subsequently, Tiantong-1 was launched in August 2016, followed by the second and third satellites in 2020 and 2021. The three Tiantong satellites, placed in the geosynchronous orbit (GSO) at an altitude of 36,000 km, cover the Asia Pacific region.
Addressing the devices challenge
The launch of the satellites in itself is not groundbreaking but the crucial milestone in this initiative was the launch of smartphones that support satellite calls. Several device makers, including Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo, have recently launched smartphones that can use satellite to provide connectivity instead of terrestrial networks.
These smartphones provide a satellite calling function, which can be particularly beneficial during natural disasters when terrestrial networks are typically destroyed. Additionally, these are extremely relevant in remote and difficult-to-reach areas like the sea and deserts, which generally lack regular networks.
Typically, satellite phones are bulky and have a large antenna. However, the new-age smartphones, like Huawei’s Mate60 Pro, are regular-sized smartphones but facilitate calls through satellites. Huawei’s Mate 50-series phones are able to link to China’s BeiDou global satellite network to provide connectivity in areas that lack terrestrial networks.
China Telecom showcased the Tianton satellite service at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this year. Ultimately, the project could turn out to be disruptive for satellite communications because it allows Chinese users to dial any number in the region for an extra charge of as little as $1.38 per month.
As per media reports, Project Tiantong is significant because it resolves the problem of passive intermodulation (PIM), which typically occurs when several high-power signals interfere, impacting network performance. A group of experts worked together to develop a model to accurately predict PIM effects, which in turn, helped in developing techniques to repress PIM and ultimately resolved one of the major issues with satellite communications.
Globally, there is a growing interest in satellite-based communications. Elon Musk’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper are just some examples of the initiatives to make satellite-based connectivity more accessible. However, most of the recent initiatives are using low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, while China’s Tiantong is using GSO satellites.
Recently, SpaceX launched several new Starlink satellites to provide connectivity to smartphones. However, SpaceX uses LEO satellites which means a greater number of satellites would be required to provide regular connectivity since LEO satellites are not stationary.
The impact of the Chinese initiative will depend on whether the global ecosystem develops in favor of GSOs. Geopolitical factors are likely to play a crucial role in the widespread adoption of this initiative.