Will iPhone satellite messaging get better?

Apple’s iPhone satellite capabilities can grow, but physics are remorseless. There’s still a limit on how much satellite internet can do and how fast it can do it — unless Apple produces a case that it has been researching that doubles as a big antenna.

When Apple first launched Emergency SOS via Satellite with the iPhone 14 back in 2022, it was remarkable idea that since then has saved many lives. Apple has improved it since, and has plans for much more in future, but there is always an issue over establishing the satellite contact.

Users have to point their iPhone in the direction of a satellite orbiting the Earth, and then keep pointing at it as the satellite moves relative to the sender. One single low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite will cross from horizon to horizon in seven minutes, but line-of-site connection time is less than that in real life, and depends on buildings, trees, and terrain.

The iPhone software helps locate and track the satellite. The iPhone antenna still has a small surface area, and isn’t that high-powered. Only so much data can reliably be sent before the satellite has moved away.

Now in a newly-revealed patent application originally filed in 2024, Apple has shown how it has been researching a way around this. “Electronic Device and Case with Satellite Communication Capabilities” details ways of using a case to act as an antenna for the iPhone.

Specifically, it would be a phased array antenna. That means it has multiple receivers and transmitters. Simplifying the physics greatly, with a phased array, instead of having to find one satellite, it can connect to a whole group of them, and shift as the constellation moves.

This case, according to Apple’s proposals, would be similar to regular ones in that it can be put on and taken off. In some of the diagrams, it connects to an iPad via the Smart Connector for power.

“The removable case may include a phased antenna array in the cover,” says Apple. “In the open position, the cover may point the phased antenna array towards the sky [and the]removable case may include beamforming circuitry in the cover and coupled to the phased antenna array.”

Apple says that the iPhone could “convey wireless data with the removable case over a radio-frequency connector” or various options like NFC (Near Field Communications). The case could then relay data back the same way.

This could also solve a problem with its current solutions that Apple specifically points out.

“While the cover is in the open position,” says the patent application, “the phased antenna array may convey the wireless data with the satellite over the signal beam without being blocked by a user’s hand while the user holds the device and the removable case.”

Giving the iPhone a bigger satellite antenna means it would be possible to send more data than what it can handle right now. That first with the expectation that Apple wants to ultimately offer full internet over satellite.

More data but fewer users

All of this sounds ideal, but building the antenna into a case raises issues. Right now the satellite feature works for every iPhone user — when they can’t get a regular cell signal, satellite is offered.

So at present, a user doesn’t even need to know that there is such a thing as satellite communications. Not until they need it and the iPhone prompts them.

A case antenna would require users to know of its existence, and also to predict that they might need it. There will be many users who do exactly this, but there will still be people who unexpectedly get into danger.

So the ideal is to have this functionality all within the iPhone instead of a case. But until, or if, that becomes possible, we may eventually see a case that improves satellite communications.

For the moment, Emergency SOS via Satellite works whenever there isn’t a cell signal. But you can check out how to use it before you go mountain climbing.