Chinese engineers have developed the Tiantong-1 satellite series, enabling smartphones to make direct calls without the need for ground-based infrastructure, as reported by China Daily.
About Chinese Satellite Communication Technology (SCT):
- The satellite is part of the Tiantong Project, initiated after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake to enhance communication resilience.
- Named after the term “connecting with heaven,” the project aims to provide universal communication access, unaffected by socio-economic status.
- The satellite system, Tiantong-1 series, consists of three satellites placed in geosynchronous orbit at 36,000 kilometers altitude, covering the Asia-Pacific region from the Middle East to the Pacific Ocean. This orbit allows the satellites to keep pace with the rotation of the Earth.
- Huawei Technologies introduced the world’s first smartphone capable of making satellite calls in September 2023, compatible with Tiantong satellites, followed by other Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Honor, and Oppo.
Ref:Source
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