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Communication News 23 February 2025 - 2 June 2025

Satellite Phones: A Comprehensive Report

Satellite Phones: A Comprehensive Report

Iridium, a LEO network, started service in 1998 and operates 66 active cross-linked satellites, delivering near-global coverage, with the Iridium NEXT second-generation network launched in 2019. Globalstar uses 48 satellites (24 second-generation as of 2013), has no inter-satellite links and relies on ground gateways, and Apple’s Emergency SOS on iPhone 14 uses about 85% of Globalstar’s capacity for emergency texts. Inmarsat operates a GEO fleet of about 11 satellites, offers IsatPhone handheld services, the IsatPhone 2 provides ~8 hours of talk time and 160 hours of standby, and Inmarsat expanded with I-4/I-6 series after its 2023 acquisition by Viasat. Thuraya
2 June 2025
Out of Signal? These Phones Talk to Space! The Truth About Satellite SMS and Satellite Phones

Out of Signal? These Phones Talk to Space! The Truth About Satellite SMS and Satellite Phones

The iPhone 14 introduced Emergency SOS via satellite in September 2022 using the Globalstar network, with a US/Canada launch in November 2022 and expansion to 17 countries by mid-2024. The Huawei Mate 60 Pro, released in August 2023, became the world’s first smartphone to support direct satellite voice calls via China’s Tiantong-1 GEO constellation. Iridium operates 66 active LEO satellites in polar orbits, providing truly worldwide coverage including the poles, with cross-links between satellites. Globalstar is a LEO network with dozens of satellites in ~52° inclination, covering most populated areas but not polar regions. Apple’s Emergency SOS and Messages via
Internet Access in Mozambique

Internet Access in Mozambique

Mozambique’s internet infrastructure is heavily mobile-dominated, with three main operators—Vodacom Mozambique (about 50% market share), Movitel, and Tmcel—while fixed-line broadband remains minimal. Tmcel has accumulated over $400 million in debt and is undergoing restructuring to avoid bankruptcy. Mozambique is connected to SEACOM and EASSy submarine cables, landed in 2009–2010, and the 2Africa subsea cable landed in Maputo and Nacala in 2023. MozIX Internet Exchange Point keeps local traffic within Mozambique. <li Vodacom launched Mozambique’s first limited 5G service in Maputo in 2023, with plans to extend coverage to about 75% of the population by 2025. 3G/4G networks cover most urban
23 February 2025
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