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In 2010, technicians worked on the second-generation Globalstar satellite assembly line.
VINCENZO PINTO / AFP / Getty Images
Sometimes the market gives and the market takes away.
On Monday, stocks of satellites rose after reports said
apple
(ticker: AAPL) The iPhone 13 would support space-based communications. But satellite stocks returned some of those gains on Tuesday after the mobile communications industry delved deeper into Apple’s plans.
Globalstar
(GSAT) shares have fallen 12% in early operations.
Iridium Communications
Shares (IDRM) have a 7% discount.
AST SpaceMobile
shares have fallen by almost 2%. He
S&P 500
down 0.2%. He
Dow Jones industrial average
has dropped 0.1%.
It is an investment as of Monday when shares of Globalstar, Iridium Communications and AST SpaceMobile rose 64%, 15% and 12%, respectively. The gains came after Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities, said in a report that basically iPhones could soon take advantage of satellite networks to make calls and send messages. This would mean many new businesses for satellite companies, such as Globalstar, that operate low-Earth orbit communications networks. In addition, it would give Apple devices the ability to communicate without the need for field-based mobile phone providers.
But several reports citing tech journalists like Sascha Segan of PCMag question that capability. According to reports, it looks like the functionality of the file
Qualcomm
The modem (QCOM) that appears to use the iPhone 13 — along with the use of broadcast spectrum satellites — makes the initial expectation of satellite-based calls unlikely. Apple may be using a modified modem that allows for some features like emergency calls when mobile networks aren’t available, but not much more, according to reports.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment Monday and was not immediately available for comment on the iPhone 13 and satellite connectivity on Tuesday.
Even emergency services would be a step on the road to space-based connectivity in a small form factor, such as a smartphone. And satellite stocks don’t return all gains as of Monday. Apparently, the idea that Apple could use satellites is enough to increase the valuations of some space stocks.
Space-based Internet connectivity is, of course, possible. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has at least 100,000 subscribers to its space-based internet service. This service, however, requires a relatively large receiver, much like a satellite dish for television service.
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