Apple appears ready to do away with the dreaded “No Service” label as the rumored iPhone 18 Pro models could make a big leap in satellite connectivity, not just for emergencies (as has been the case so far) but also for everyday use cases.
Previously, iPhone users had to point the device at the sky (with a clear view of the horizon) to send an SOS signal to emergency services. However, the upcoming iPhones (Pro models only) could solve this problem once and for all.
Goodbye “No Service”?
The magic comes from Apple’s in-house C2 5G modem (via Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo), which reportedly supports NR-NTN (New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks) and allows the iPhone 18 Pro models to treat low-orbit satellites as distant cell towers. The connection should work even indoors.
If true, satellite connectivity on the iPhone 18 Pro models could open up some compelling yet realistic use cases. The cell phones should be able to provide reliable connectivity while hiking, sailing, driving through dead zones, or simply during random outages from your carrier.
Last month I wrote a story about the iPhone 18 Pro models’ alleged “5G via satellite” feature. In a video about renders of the proposed iPhones, Front Page Tech also discussed the alleged satellite connectivity feature that will allow users to access 5G internet via satellites.
The C2 modem and the transition to satellite-based 5G
I’m connecting the dots here, but it sounds like the iPhone 18 Pro models could see satellite connectivity as a replacement for poor or no cellular service. In this way, the device could provide the user with a seamless connectivity experience.
Whenever he wants to access the Internet, the C2 modem decides whether a reliable cellular service is available or whether it is necessary to resort to NR-NTN, without leaving technical information to the user and asking him to choose between the available networks.
Beyond always-on connectivity, the C2 5G modem in the iPhone 18 Pro models could also improve efficiency (helping with longer battery life), enable tighter Apple integration, and introduce a new privacy feature that limits how exactly carriers can determine the iPhone’s location.
