Despite Dispute, Globalstar Taps SpaceX To Launch Apple-Funded Satellites
Despite an ongoing regulatory spat, Globalstar has decided to hire SpaceX to launch satellites to power Apple’s Emergency SOS feature for iPhones.
Globalstar entered the deal with SpaceX, according to an SEC filing noticed by NOLA.com. The filing is sparse on details, but the document says SpaceX will launch the new set of satellites during a 2025 launch window.
Globalstar will pay $64 million to launch the satellites. However, the SEC filing notes Apple, referred to as a launch partner, is paying 95% of the costs for the new satellites, including the launch fees.
Globalstar declined to comment on the agreement. However, the deal is raising eyebrows because the company is also fighting a SpaceX effort to secure radio spectrum for an upcoming satellite cellular service for Starlink.
A year ago, Globalstar urged the Federal Communications Commission to reject a SpaceX request to use the 1.6GHz and 2.4GHz radio bands for the Starlink mobile service. The company’s main concern is that Starlink will cause interference with Globalstar’s own satellite systems, which has been powering the Emergency SOS feature for the iPhone 14.
In an updated filing in February, Globalstar further accused SpaceX of making a “lawless” attempt to secure the radio spectrum. “While SpaceX continues waging war domestically and abroad, Globalstar and its partners continue to invest in and innovate life-saving mobile satellite services globally, including most recently the groundbreaking satellite-to-handset emergency services introduced to the mass consumer market in 2022,” the company added.
It’s also true that SpaceX’s proposed cellular service through Starlink could compete with Globalstar’s business. The Elon Musk company is aiming to power
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