Apple iPhone 18 Pro To Debut ‘Game-Changer’ New Satellite Upgrade, Report Says

InnovationConsumer TechApple iPhone 18 Pro To Debut ‘Game-Changer’ New Satellite Upgrade, Report SaysByDavid Phelan,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about lifestyle techFollow AuthorMay 24, 2026, 07:01am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryApple's next iPhones, expected in September, are rumored to feature a new custom Apple C2 modem. This modem would replace Qualcomm's and introduce advanced 5G over satellite capabilities, specifically 5G NR-NTN. This technology integrates satellite connectivity directly with 5G cellular, promising a significant upgrade for off-grid communication. Crucially, users may no longer need to manually point their phones at satellites. The C2 modem could enable automatic fallback to satellite connections when cellular service is weak, transforming a niche feature into an everyday benefit. This seamless, carrier-independent satellite access, likely via Globalstar, is being hailed as a potential game-changer for iPhone users.Show More Apple iPhone 17 Pro — will iPhone 18 Pro have improved satellite connectivity built into its hardware?AFP via Getty ImagesWhen Apple releases its next iPhones, almost certainly in September, a new modem is likely to be on board which could transform the satellite capabilities of the smartphones. ForbesSony Launches Reon Pocket Pro Plus Wearable Air Conditioner In Time For Summer HeatwavesBy David PhelanThe three phones expected, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first folding phone, perhaps called the iPhone Ultra, a rumored to contain a new Apple-branded modem, the Apple C2.If the mention of a modem is enough for your eyes to glaze over, hold on, it is interesting, honest. Apple's Custom C2 Modem To Replace Qualcomm“In addition to providing 5G cellular connectivity (replacing Qualcomm modems), C2 will also support 5G over satellit...