Tantalizing Possibilities: Could Apple Finally Team Up with SpaceX for iPhone Satellite Connectivity?
The tech world is once again buzzing with speculation about a potential alliance between Apple and SpaceX, two of the most powerful companies on the planet. While Elon Musk has long dreamed of connecting iPhones directly to the Starlink satellite network, Apple previously turned down such ambitions. Yet recent developments are hinting that this once far-fetched collaboration might be inching closer to reality.
According to a report from The Information, several emerging factors now align in a way that makes the idea more tangible than ever. The most striking of these is that SpaceX’s latest generation of Starlink satellites now supports the same radio spectrum used by Apple’s iPhones. This technical overlap could eliminate one of the major barriers that once made such a partnership impractical.
Currently, Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite service relies on Globalstar’s infrastructure, allowing iPhone users to reach emergency services or share their location even in areas without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. The Cupertino company has invested roughly $2 billion into Globalstar, giving it partial exclusivity over that service. However, cracks are showing in that relationship. Globalstar’s chair, James Monroe, recently floated the idea of selling the company for more than $10 billion – a move that could signal instability or strategic redirection. Meanwhile, Apple is unlikely to acquire Globalstar outright, as doing so could risk regulatory complications by classifying Apple as a carrier.
At the same time, SpaceX has been expanding its telecommunications ambitions. The company’s acquisition of EchoStar’s wireless spectrum for $17 billion in 2025 enables it to deliver faster, globally accessible satellite internet directly to mobile devices. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell confirmed that the company has been in talks with chip manufacturers to integrate satellite connectivity at the hardware level – meaning future smartphones could link to orbiting satellites without needing external antennas or accessories.
Despite these technological synergies, the human factor may still pose obstacles. Musk’s turbulent relationship with Apple CEO Tim Cook has not exactly warmed over time. Back in 2022, Musk proposed a sweeping deal under which SpaceX would become Apple’s exclusive satellite provider for at least 18 months, asking for an upfront payment of $5 billion and a yearly follow-up fee of $1 billion. Apple dismissed the proposal, citing financial and operational concerns.
Relations worsened when Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, xAI, accused Apple of unfairly manipulating App Store rankings to disadvantage its Grok chatbot while favoring ChatGPT. Such friction could easily derail any potential partnership, even if both companies now share overlapping technological goals.
Still, if history has taught us anything, it’s that Apple and SpaceX share one powerful trait: an obsession with innovation. Should their paths finally converge, the outcome could redefine what mobile connectivity means – bringing satellite-powered communication to billions of iPhone users and setting a new benchmark for global tech collaboration.