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Europe Connects Unmodified Phones via Satellite
19 Nov
Summary
- OQ Technology successfully sent emergency messages to standard smartphones from orbit.
- The demonstration occurred in a remote area lacking terrestrial network coverage.
- This achievement supports Europe's goal for sovereign satellite communication capabilities.
OQ Technology has pioneered direct-to-device emergency messaging from space, becoming the first European satellite operator to achieve this feat. Standard, unmodified smartphones, including iPhones and Android devices, received a real-time emergency broadcast directly from an OQ satellite passing overhead. This live orbital demonstration, conducted in a remote location without any ground-based network, validates the viability of space-based emergency communications for everyday devices.
The Luxembourg-based company utilized its S-band spectrum for the transmission and plans to expand its constellation to 100 satellites within three years. This expansion aims to enable two-way texting and eventually voice services, bolstering Europe's push for independent critical communication capabilities. Such advancements are deemed crucial amid rising cybersecurity threats and geopolitical instability.
