A new report from CoBank Knowledge exchange in Denver said satellite smartphones have gained momentum since Apple, T-Mobile and Space announced they will provide satelite service.
CoBank said satellite smartphones could have a profound impact on residents of rural communities as the technology advances and more robust service offerings become available,
“Initially, the service options available through satellite phone connectivity will be limited to basic text and SOS messaging,” said Jeff Johnston, lead communications economist for CoBank.
“But as new satellites are launched over the next several years, voice calling and more advanced data applications should become available. And smartphones equipped with satellite technology will work anywhere in the U.S., regardless of cellular coverage,” he said.
It doesn’t apply here because the federal and provincial governments are investing millions to provide fibre-optic connectivity to rural Ontario. Fibre optic is much faster and provides broader access to the internet.
