> Per phone might be low bandwidth Yes, but you used the comparison to Starlink receivers. Per-phone is all that matters to refute your receiver size concern.

> Per phone might be low bandwidth Yes, but you used the comparison to Starlink receivers. Per-phone is all that matters to refute your receiver size concern. The reporting suggests that Apple partnered with Globalstar for delivery. I don't think anyone is under any illusions that Apple suddenly launched a LEO fleet but there's a lot of providers of satellite mobile telephony in the space and Globalstar is one of them. Low bandwidth satellite does not take huge hardware anymore. You can buy Iridium or Globalstar mobile hotspots that are handheld in size (e.g., Iridium Go!). Many trail runners carry Garmin InReach which is phone-sized.