Imagine you’re relying on your iPhone’s Emergency SOS via satellite during a remote hike—and suddenly, the signal cuts out. Frustrating, right? That’s exactly what could happen if SpaceX and Apple don’t settle their dispute over precious radio frequencies. Let’s break down what’s happening and why it matters for anyone who depends on satellite?based connectivity, especially now, that smartphones are actively coming with satellite based texting out of the box.

Firstly, what is the dispute all about?

SpaceX and Apple are vying for control over the same radio?frequency bands used to beam signals from satellites down to your devices. Sources tell The Wall Street Journal that SpaceX is urging U.S. regulators to stall Apple’s partner Globalstar from expanding its spectrum usage—citing concerns the application is “premature” and could hamper fair, future rule?making

All satellites transmit on licensed radio frequencies. If one company locks down too many bands in a region, competitors can’t operate there without causing interference—or they’re forced to offer a degraded service. For you, that means spotty coverage, dead zones, or higher prices if a single provider gains monopoly?like control

Why SpaceX is trying to block out GlobalStar

SpaceX filed comments with the FCC arguing Globalstar’s “C3” constellation should not get exclusive access to the 1.6?GHz and 2.4?GHz bands until new sharing rules are finalized. Musk’s team says pausing Globalstar avoids locking in an outdated regime and ensures all operators play by the same rules

How is Apple planning to fight back on this?

Since 2022, iPhones (14 and later) have offered Emergency SOS via satellite—and in 2024, Apple added two?way messaging. To scale this, Apple invested $1.5?billion in Globalstar and explored talks with other operators, including Boeing and EchoStar. Apple even had “on?and?off” conversations with SpaceX about integrating Starlink directly—but nothing materialized

So, what should we expect when the dust settles?

1. Dead Zones & Spotty Service: If neither side compromises, both Starlink and Apple’s satellite features could suffer interruptions.

2. Monopolistic Control: One operator could dominate spectrum, leading to higher costs and limited consumer choice.

3. Regulatory Precedent: The FCC’s decision will set the tone for all future satellite?cellular integrations—impacting new entrants like Amazon’s Project Kuiper or AST SpaceMobile

Before we conclude, here are some things you can do, while the two juggernauts fight it out –

Stay Informed: Follow FCC filings at fcc.gov to see when Globalstar’s application is up for review.

Before relying on satellite features, confirm your carrier’s and device’s supported bands under Settings???General???About on iPhone. Make sure you are using the right hardware that can truly support satellite communication.

Finally, if you travel off-grid frequently, consider multi?network satellite hotspots that aggregate signals from multiple constellations.