{"id":666,"date":"2025-04-05T23:57:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-05T23:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techrepublic.com\/?p=4301212"},"modified":"2025-04-05T23:57:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T23:57:34","slug":"apple-vs-starlink-the-tech-feud-that-could-shape-the-next-frontier-of-mobile-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tecnoartesanos.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/05\/apple-vs-starlink-the-tech-feud-that-could-shape-the-next-frontier-of-mobile-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple vs. Starlink: The Tech Feud That Could Shape the Next Frontier of Mobile Service"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image: John Gress Media Inc, Shutterstock \/ John Gress Media Inc<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Apple is seeking to eliminate cell phone dead spots though expanded satellites, but Elon Musk\u2019s Starlink won\u2019t let that happen without a fight, according to an exclusive report from The Wall Street Journal. Sources who spoke to WSJ say SpaceX is now putting pressure on U.S. federal regulators to stall Apple\u2019s expansion of its Globalstar satellite service, which directly competes with SpaceX\u2019s Starlink network.<\/p>\n

Reportedly<\/a>, the pressure intensified after discussions between the two companies broke down. Originally, they were attempting to strike a deal to directly connect iPhones to Starlink satellites, but talks ended without a direct agreement. Instead, SpaceX and T-Mobile will be able to offer their alternative satellite services on Apple devices, a departure from Apple\u2019s famously closed ecosystem.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Why satellite availability is limited<\/span><\/h2>\n

All satellites use radio frequencies to send signals to Earth. If too many satellites try to use the same frequency, the signals become muddled, degrading communication and slowing down data speeds. To prevent this from happening, most geographic regions license specific radio frequencies to certain satellite providers.<\/p>\n

The more radio frequencies that a single company controls, the more data it can send and the faster its communication will be. However, if one company monopolizes too many radio frequencies in one region, it forces other satellite providers out.<\/p>\n

Other providers must offer limited services on a smaller bandwidth, or they opt out altogether, leading to dead zones with no service at all. Having a monopoly or a majority hold on satellite signals also allows the majority provider to drive up costs. This results in price gouging consumers who rely on the provider for cell phone service.<\/p>\n