Hardly anyone sends text messages anymore since WhatsApp came along. Actually, you would only want to use SMS if you have no reach via WhatsApp, but then there is often no reach to send text messages. Now a test has been completed that may change this.
Normally a text message goes from your phone to the nearest cell tower and from there it is sent to the recipient. When sending, the message always remains on earth. Deutsche Telekom, chipmaker Qualcomm and Skylo have now succeeded together to send a text message through space.
SMS via geostationary satellites
It is the first time in Europe that the network of a telecom provider on earth has been integrated into a satellite network. The satellites used are geostationary, which means that they always hang in a fixed location above the Earth, about 36,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
The ability to send text messages via satellite can save a life in an emergency. If there is an emergency in a place where you cannot reach the cell towers, you can still call the emergency services. Apple has also built a function into the iPhone 14 and newer for such cases.
Also for daily use
Yet the use of satellites as currently tested is not only useful in emergency situations. In the Netherlands we have a very well-covered network, but in other European countries this is not always the case. With the help of SMS via satellites, people in remote areas can also easily contact the rest of the world.
The idea is that the new technology will actually be made available to Deutsche Telekom customers in the future. If that works well, other providers will undoubtedly follow. A very recent chip from Qualcomm was used for the test, the Snapdragon X80 5G Modem-RF System. According to Qualcomm, it has advanced capabilities that allow sending text messages via satellite. This means that you may have to purchase a new smartphone with a new chip to eventually be able to use satellite text messaging.
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Source: www.bright.nl
