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楼主 / dftimes
- 时间: 2022-11-07 21:05Huawei, Apple into the game, the global Starlink competition began
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At Huawei's new product release conference on September 6, the breakthrough technology came as expected -- Beidou's short message function. In a special environment without ground network signal coverage, Huawei Mate 50 can send text and location information to the outside world through Changlian App and support multiple locations to generate trajectory maps.
Just in time, old rival Apple also unveiled a full range of satellite-enabled iPhone 14 products at its fall event. Using custom components and software inside the phone, the iPhone 14 connects to a unique satellite frequency and sends a distress message to designated rescue agencies.
Two years later, two of the industry's top players face off again, but the focus is on satellite communications. As a veteran player in the communications industry, it is natural for Huawei to support satellite communications. But when it comes to iphones, poor signal is an open secret. You can't even optimize the ground signal, so how can you follow the "poking the sky"?
Specifically, take a look at Huawei and Apple's satellite communications:
In terms of service scope, Huawei's satellite communications capabilities are currently limited to mainland China, while Apple plans to start with two countries, the United States and Canada.
In terms of cost, Huawei offers 30 items a month for free, while Apple directly says it will not charge for the next two years.
In terms of functional experience, Huawei mainly supports plain text and geographical location information. Apple can send more information, including medical ID, emergency questionnaire information, geolocation, and battery level, which means that the satellite first aid information sent by Apple requires more bandwidth. In addition, when a message for help is sent on the iPhone, it can receive a response from emergency services.
Based on public information, Apple's satellite communications capabilities are as good as, and in some ways better than, Huawei's. Just like the so-called specialized industry, why Huawei, which has been deeply engaged in the communication industry for more than 30 years, was caught up by Apple, a layman?
01 Starlink Ecosystem behind Apple
[1] What is Starlink?
Starlink is a network of satellites in orbit around the Earth, each acting as a giant base station in space. The best known is Space X's Starlink program: to launch 12,000 communications satellites into Earth orbit to create a high-speed satellite-communications network that would cover the entire globe.
Then again, Starlink is not a new concept. The Iridium program dates back to the 1980s, when MOTOROLA launched 66 satellites over 11 years at a cost of more than $5 billion.
However, due to the long time span and the popularity of terrestrial 2G networks at the beginning of the Iridium system's construction, coupled with the high price of Iridium phones and poor sales, the revenue of the user group is far from enough to support the maintenance cost of the Iridium system of hundreds of millions of dollars per year. In the end, Iridium failed less than a year after its commercial launch -- 66 satellites turned into beautiful shooting stars.
In fact, from the technical point of view, the Iridium program was the first to use the concept of Starlink, the first to create a satellite communication network, and at that time is undoubtedly very leading. However, the technology is too advanced, it is impossible to commercialize and finally became a regrettable martyr.
【2】 How far has Starlink developed in America?
Due to the high investment in satellite communications, high technical barriers, and long development cycle, there has been no satellite mobile phone for ordinary consumers for 20 years after the Iridium program. But satellite communications networks have never stopped being explored, most notably by SpaceX, the US Space Exploration technology company founded by Mr. Musk in 2002.
In 2015, Musk reintroduced Starlink, a plan to bring satellite Internet Provider back into the public eye.
In March 2018, Space X successfully launched two experimental small satellites on its Falcon 9 rocket and conducted a ground-to-earth communication test.
On May 23, 2019, Space X successfully launched the first 60 Starlink satellites into orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket.
As of August, SpaceX had launched 3,208 satellites, making it the world's leader in the number of communications satellites in orbit. Musk's deployment is surprisingly fast. Space X currently has nearly half a million users in more than 20 countries. If all goes well, Space X will offer cheaper Internet connections around the world.
Although Musk's Starlink is defined as a commercial satellite network, it has a wide range of applications, even for the military. Starlink demonstrated its military value during this year's conflict with Ukraine, for example, when Mr. Musk was quick to provide Starlink to Ukrainian forces to help them connect to the outside world after Russia destroyed ground communications in Ukraine. This "practice" not only made Musk famous but also made countries worldwide realize Starlink's strategic significance.
Compared to Iridium, Space X's Starlink data is now faster and more widely available, and satellite costs and launch costs have dropped exponentially. Meanwhile, SpaceX is getting more and more records. On August 26, Musk announced on Twitter that the second generation of Starlink, which will be launched next year, will be able to connect directly to mobile phones, even if all cell towers are down.
Figure 2: Managing SpaceX's Starlink on a mobile app. Source: SpaceX website
In just two decades, SpaceX has gone from a private start-up to a star rocket company integrating satellite manufacturing, rocket launch and recovery, ground station construction, satellite operation and service, and become a unicorn with a valuation of over $100 billion.
In the final analysis, the success of Space X has to do with the fertile soil of American spaceflight.
First of all, the U.S. space industry has a deep heritage, with thousands of supply chain supporting enterprises and a considerable number of top practitioners; Second, the United States was early to explore satellite communications networks and open commercial spaceflight to private companies. Finally, there are more perfect capital markets overseas, which can provide enough "fuel" for high-tech companies with high risk and long return cycles such as Space X.
Of course, in addition to Musk's Starlink, the United States also has Global Star, the Apple 14's satellite communications service. Less well known to the public, GoStar has been around for more than 30 years. In June 1991, Loral and Qualcomm formed the GoStar Project as a joint venture. Gostar launched its first satellite in February 1998 and began full commercial service in February 2000 on the basis of 48 satellites and four spare satellites. So far, Global Star has received land licenses in 10 countries, covering an estimated 750 million people. -
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第 2 楼 / Slowbro
- 时间: 2022-11-17 10:38
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Huawei, Apple into the game, the global Starlink competition
