Satellite connectivity on Huawei smartphones has been credited with saving a user’s life during the recent Tibet-Nepal disaster, in which almost 1,000 people died and nearly 5,000 remain missing.
Many of the best Android phones and iPhones now support satellite communications without additional equipment. While the technology allows short messages to be sent from remote areas far from any road, it was developed chiefly for SOS situations, and one survivor can now attest to its value.
How the feature saved a life
Caught in a dangerous location after the disaster struck, the man managed to escape thanks to his smartphone. He left a message on the social media account of Huawei’s Executive Director, Richard Yu, praising the Huawei Mate X5 and its satellite communication feature, which allowed him to stay in contact with the outside world after conventional network connectivity was lost.
Using satellite communications, the survivor successfully contacted a helicopter and was subsequently evacuated to safety. He said the experience made him realise that, when disaster strikes, satellite communication can genuinely save lives.
When terrestrial networks go down because of a natural disaster, a remote location or infrastructure failure, a satellite link can provide a crucial backup route for sending messages and location data. It offers a way to reach rescuers or family members when conventional service is completely unavailable.
Which phones offer satellite features
Satellite connectivity is no longer exclusive to specialised devices, though availability varies by country and carrier. Apple’s iPhone 14 and newer models support features such as Emergency SOS, location sharing and, in some markets, messaging. On Android, Google’s Pixel 9 and later support Satellite SOS, with availability depending on the market, while Samsung has expanded satellite support to its newer Galaxy S26 series.
Huawei led the way
Huawei introduced satellite connectivity with its 2022 Mate 50 series, making the Mate 50 and Mate 50 Pro the first smartphones to offer the feature. The phones can send short text messages and use satellite navigation through China’s BeiDou network, allowing users to communicate in areas without cellular coverage, including during emergencies.
Source
Image: phonearena.com
