Apple and SpaceX talks may be back on with Starlink getting deeper iPhone access

Apple and SpaceX may have revived talks about a deeper partnership, according to a new report from Fierce Network. The report implies conversations about bringing Starlink-style satellite connectivity into iPhones have resumed, a development that would complicate Apple’s earlier satellite arrangements and follow a string of technical and regulatory moves that make such integrations a possibility.

This discussion is rooted in things that have already happened. As noted by WCCFTech, Apple launched basic satellite Emergency SOS via Globalstar with the iPhone 14. Since then, regulators and operators have opened the door to more ambitious direct-to-device work. The FCC has since approved limited direct-to-cell tests for SpaceX and carrier partners; iOS 18.3 has also included early Starlink compatibility testing on iPhones, and EchoStar’s spectrum deals have shifted the strategic playing field. Those pieces help explain why industry watchers now treat an Apple/SpaceX conversation as plausible rather than simply speculative.

The report frames the renewed interest around EchoStar’s high-profile spectrum moves and SpaceX’s public push to expand Starlink’s direct-to-device footprint. If Apple were to layer Starlink into future handsets, it would be a huge strategic win for SpaceX and a big change for Apple customers, especially users in remote or disaster-affected areas who need reliable fallback connectivity.

There are substantial technical and commercial hurdles. Phone-level Starlink connectivity would require antenna and RF design changes, firmware and OS work in iOS, and carrier agreements to avoid interference with terrestrial networks. Apple would also need to decide the commercial terms and their implications: would satellite data be charged separately, bundled with AppleCare, or restricted to emergency use only? These, however, are the sort of details that can slow even the most obvious engineering partnerships.

The potential ripple effects in the industry are real. A move away from Globalstar or the addition of Starlink as a parallel option would change who benefits from Apple’s satellite strategy. Direct-to-device specialists and rivals such as AST SpaceMobile might see their competitive positions shift, and carriers will be weighing how handset-level satellite features interact with their own network plans. Regulators will be watching as well, because spectrum usage, cross-border routing, and national security concerns are all part of the equation.

For now, the story remains unconfirmed: the Information and other outlets have also gone over the strategic possibilities. If Apple and SpaceX do reach a deal, the result could change how phones stay online in hard-to-reach places and which satellite providers gain priority access to handset ecosystems.

Until either Apple or SpaceX confirms anything publicly, it is best to treat this as a developing story, which, regardless, is still worth noting. The regulatory approvals and completed proof-of-concept trials make renewed talks more believable. Still, integration complexity and commercial terms will determine whether this becomes a transformative partnership or another industry rumor.

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