One NZ launches with SpaceX collaboration announcement

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › One NZ launches with SpaceX collaboration announcement

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1961 posts

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#3058135 3-Apr-2023 11:00

RogerMellie:

Was hoping for mention of eSIM support.

There's a link to register interest in the new satellite access 'from late 2024', and they'll keep us updated.

Yeah, right. Did that with the eSIM page and got exactly zero updates in ..3 years?

eSIM has been out for a few months now? I have eSIM with Vodafone

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tim0001

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#3058137 3-Apr-2023 11:01

Is there any mention of indoor performance? Steel roofing is pretty standard in NZ, so I'm guessing you would need to be close to a window with a view of the sky (especially when voice service is provided)?

gehenna

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#3058146 3-Apr-2023 11:22

MikeAqua:

We used Starlink for a fixed network and I'm very happy with it.. However, you can't use it for mobile, there are no suitable modems. YOuc na vehicle modems for use whyne the vehicle is stationary (e..g caravan while parked up).

I don't need it for mobile, but my question is more about the hardware - if this is backing up the existing mobile network, then maybe I don't need to outlay on Starlink kit but just on a 4G modem that's backed by Starlink. Or maybe that is something they won't support. Details are sparse.

timmyh

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#3058151 3-Apr-2023 11:36

MikeAqua:

We used Starlink for a fixed network and I'm very happy with it.. However, you can't use it for mobile, there are no suitable modems. YOuc na vehicle modems for use whyne the vehicle is stationary (e..g caravan while parked up).

Have you tried WiFi Calling over Starlink? Obviously it'll only give you coverage in areas where you have WiFi that links back to the Starlink.

Obraik

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#3058152 3-Apr-2023 11:36

gehenna:

I don't need it for mobile, but my question is more about the hardware - if this is backing up the existing mobile network, then maybe I don't need to outlay on Starlink kit but just on a 4G modem that's backed by Starlink. Or maybe that is something they won't support. Details are sparse.

At initial launch, it will only support SMS and MMS - no voice or data. In the future they plan on adding that, but you're looking at a few years away.

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Obraik

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#3058153 3-Apr-2023 11:37

timmyh:

Have you tried WiFi Calling over Starlink? Obviously it'll only give you coverage in areas where you have WiFi that links back to the Starlink.

I have - works great!

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timmyh

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#3058156 3-Apr-2023 11:43

DjShadow:

Is this different to the new feature the iPhone 14 has called "Satellite SOS"?

I think that is a service that is managed by Apple and activated country by country and it requires special hardware in the phone, hence only iPhone 14. There is an app on the phone that manages how you hold your phone an align to the satellite so might not even be LEO. Seems different to these other announcements that a wider range of phones can be used.

wellygary

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#3058163 3-Apr-2023 12:13

timmyh:

I think that is a service that is managed by Apple and activated country by country and it requires special hardware in the phone, hence only iPhone 14. There is an app on the phone that manages how you hold your phone an align to the satellite so might not even be LEO.

Of course its a LEO :), There is no way a handset that fits in your pocket could talk to a Geosat 36,000km away :)

Apple are using the Globalstar network, which already provide a global sat phone service

boosacnoodle

650 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3058164 3-Apr-2023 12:15

Assuming that this will work similarly to what Apple has done with Globalstar - using a dormant 5G band, for Emergency SOS - then this is likely to be a number of years away before it works reliably. This will require a mobile phone that supports a dormant 5G band (how many phones are still being sold as 4G only?). Similarly, I’d anticipate this will be outdoors only too. This is not going to give you service at the Bach, indoors, but will probably work on your hike.

It will also require SpaceX / StarLink to launch new satellites with the right equipment on them (same as they are needing to do with T-Mobile in the states). This necessitates antennas on the satellite of some 5m x 5m to receive such a faint signal.

It’s worthwhile noting that this service will not be the same as “true” Starlink. A Starlink “dishy” has some 1000+ antennas inside of it using what’s known as a phase array with beam forming. Because of the beam forming, true Starlink will not be coming to mobiles anytime soon as the amount of miniaturisation required is just not there yet. This will be why the announcement says TXTs only at launch. So, I’ll be surprised if data comes anywhere close to 3G speeds over StarLink satellites on mobile in the next five years.

timmyh

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#3058165 3-Apr-2023 12:15

wellygary:

timmyh:

I think that is a service that is managed by Apple and activated country by country and it requires special hardware in the phone, hence only iPhone 14. There is an app on the phone that manages how you hold your phone an align to the satellite so might not even be LEO.

Of course its a LEO :), There is no way a handset that fits in your pocket could talk to a Geosat 36,000km away :)

Apple are using the Globalstar network, which already provide a global sat phone service

Okay thanks. Do you know why it is only iPhone 14, i.e. is it special hardware, how is this different to the One and 2d announcements of today?

gehenna

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#3058173 3-Apr-2023 12:42

Obraik:

At initial launch, it will only support SMS and MMS - no voice or data. In the future they plan on adding that, but you're looking at a few years away.

Ah that is interesting thanks.

gehenna

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#3058175 3-Apr-2023 12:43

timmyh:

Okay thanks. Do you know why it is only iPhone 14, i.e. is it special hardware, how is this different to the One and 2d announcements of today?

Yes there is special hardware for the iPhone to communicate direct with the satellite. I would assume the One NZ implementation is a backhaul satellite thing, rather than direct connection between phone and satellite.

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#3058177 3-Apr-2023 12:46

gehenna:

timmyh:

Okay thanks. Do you know why it is only iPhone 14, i.e. is it special hardware, how is this different to the One and 2d announcements of today?

Yes there is special hardware for the iPhone to communicate direct with the satellite. I would assume the One NZ implementation is a backhaul satellite thing, rather than direct connection between phone and satellite.

From the 2degrees discussion I've linked in previous page: 5G from Space: An Overview of 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Networks (PDF)

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Obraik

1961 posts

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#3058178 3-Apr-2023 12:49

gehenna:
timmyh:

Okay thanks. Do you know why it is only iPhone 14, i.e. is it special hardware, how is this different to the One and 2d announcements of today?

Yes there is special hardware for the iPhone to communicate direct with the satellite. I would assume the One NZ implementation is a backhaul satellite thing, rather than direct connection between phone and satellite.

It's a direct connection to the new v2 Starlink satellites using the 5G frequencies, so any 5G phone should work with it.

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RogerMellie

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Ultimate Geek

#3058180 3-Apr-2023 12:53

Obraik:

RogerMellie:

Was hoping for mention of eSIM support.

There's a link to register interest in the new satellite access 'from late 2024', and they'll keep us updated.

Yeah, right. Did that with the eSIM page and got exactly zero updates in ..3 years?

eSIM has been out for a few months now? I have eSIM with Vodafone

I should have been more specific, I meant eSIM for watches.

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