During a gathering focused on aerospace information technology held in Chongqing, the leading researcher from Huawei’s 6G wireless technology laboratory outlined recent test results for private satellite Internet experiments. The presentation drew parallels to Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink initiative, illustrating Huawei’s ambition to create a space-based mesh that could complement terrestrial networks. The discussion, summarized by iXBT, highlighted that the work is moving in a direction where satellite links would provide broad coverage, especially in areas where traditional cellular networks are unreliable or unavailable.
Huawei reported data download speeds reaching 660 Mbit per second on its experimental systems. The team used satellites in low Earth orbit to construct the test network, adopting a delivery model similar in concept to Starlink. Yet, the researchers stopped short of naming the specific satellites involved in the trials, noting only that the platforms were of a type consistent with Chinese LEO satellite deployments that have featured in prior demonstrations. This lack of explicit satellite identifiers underscores the early stage of the project and the sensitive nature of launch and orbital data in this domain, as satellite constellations continue to evolve and expand across different nations.
The results come on the heels of Huawei’s broader strategy to integrate satellite communications into its ecosystem. Notably, Huawei already markets the Mate 60 Pro+ smartphone, which includes satellite communications capability, signaling a clear intent to pair consumer devices with space-based networks. While these findings suggest a path toward a commercially viable satellite Internet service, Huawei has not announced a specific timetable for a public launch. The company’s cadence appears to be building foundational technology, testing interoperability, and aligning regulatory and infrastructural elements before any mass-market rollout occurs.
In a related industry milestone, Apple became the first major smartphone maker to introduce a satellite communication feature, with the iPhone 14 in 2022. The Emergency SOS via Satellite function enables iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users in the United States, Canada, and a number of other regions to dispatch distress messages to emergency services when cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity is absent. This capability is purpose-built for emergencies and does not provide full satellite Internet access for regular data services on these devices. The emphasis remains on resilience and rapid alerts when connectivity is completely unavailable. Beyond these consumer implementations, Samsung has previously pursued milestones in artificial intelligence-driven smartphone development, signaling ongoing industry interest in smarter, more capable devices that could eventually harmonize with satellite networks in various ways.