Ilon Musk vs. Apple: conflict over satellite services
By ForGeeks Apple is aggressively developing Emergency SOS via Satellite and Roadside Assistance via Satellite satellite services in the United States, but their expansion faces resistance from Ilon Musk.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the SpaceX owner is unhappy that Apple has invested more than $1 billion in Globalstar, which is a competitor to his Starlink. The main problem is the rights to the frequency spectrum, which is shared among satellite operators such as Starlink, Globalstar, Echostar, Viasat and Iridium.
Musk, who has close ties to the US president and his administration, has sent a request to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reject Globalstar’s application to use the new frequencies to deploy a network of satellites supporting Apple’s services.
SpaceX and Apple have previously tried to collaborate, but their negotiations have been tense. The Cupertino-based company struck a deal with T-Mobile to use Starlink, but the approval process proved difficult. The possibility of connecting iPhones to Starlink satellites has been discussed, but so far it’s unlikely.
SpaceX does have a benefit from the partnership, however: it will launch the Globalstar satellites funded by Apple, even if the FCC doesn’t support the company’s bid.
