The iPhone 13 could become more independent of the cellular network by means of LEO satellite communication. That would be particularly advantageous in poorly developed 4G and 5G regions. And maybe on an adventure vacation in the wilderness.

This is made possible by the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) technology, writes MacRumors . This is a satellite in low orbit from 200 to 2000 kilometers. The well-known Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo has now announced to investors that the hardware of the iPhone 13 can connect to LEO satellites.

In combination with the appropriate software, iPhone 13 owners could make phone calls and send messages even without an active cellular connection. According to rumors, an adapted Qualcomm X60 baseband chip is supposed to be installed inside, which is supposed to support communication via satellites.

iPhone 13: release in September?

Most recently, LEO satellite communications have made headlines primarily through SpaceX's Starlink Internet . Apple, on the other hand, is most likely to work with satellite operator Globalstar for this project, they say. Qualcomm, in turn, has worked with Globalstar to support the n53 frequency with the upcoming X65 baseband processor. Rumor has it that other smartphone manufacturers are waiting until the chip is available in 2022 to integrate satellite communications into their devices.

In addition to the iPhone 13, LEO satellite communication is likely to be built into numerous other devices, including Apple's mixed reality headset, but also in e-cars and smart home devices. It will soon be seen whether the technology will actually be used in the iPhone 13 – the new iPhone 2021 could hit the market in September.