From Iridium Q3 conference call Q&A regarding Direct to Handset using Iridium.
Ric Prentiss
Hey. Matt, I know you mentioned smartphone satellites will become clearer in due time, but I'd be remiss if I didn't ask a couple of questions around it. I think previously, a few months ago, you mentioned that you're working on the service agreement with the unnamed technology development partner. Can you update us as far as timeline as far as when you expect to have that service agreement in place?
Matthew Desch
I think I previously said we expect it to happen before the end of the year. And I think we're still on that, certainly on that track right now.
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Mathieu Robilliard
And the second one was back to the project for handset connectivity. I just want to clarify that the service was being considered for using L-band, and whether you are holding [ph] necessary regulatory approvals to use that service with L-band? And how should we think about when and how L-band could be included in some of the chipset? Is that something you're also working on? Is that more something that would fall on your partners? Thank you.
Matthew Desch
We already have global license to operate from satellites to any small device on the ground, including a smartphone. There is no approvals required or more landing rights that we don't have today. So really it's just a matter of adding that capability. I will -- I won't say any more about how we added because I think that's what we've left to the announcement in future. Who we're adding it with or how that will go to market, but I think most people can probably get a rough idea how that works. So does that help Mathieu?
Mathieu Robilliard
Yes, I think that's very clear. I guess, the question on L-band not at the moment -- nothing at the moment something that is embedded in your traditional smartphone. And how that could be sort of, I guess, [indiscernible]. It maybe something for your partner to deal with rather than you directly?
Matthew Desch
Yes. If I told you that I would be giving your plans away. But I mean, I think you can kind of see, obviously, Apple embedded Globalstar's technology into their iPhone 14, that certainly has been the way that they have made a direct connection from space to satellite. It doesn't require as you can see, they've announced that initial service will be operated in North America alone. It's not for regulatory purposes or anything, it's really probably more for technical reasons and where the service can be deployed, or where they want to deploy the service. We would be focused on delivering Global Services, whatever we do, and obviously our L-band has to go into a device
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Apple Iphone 14 currently FCC OET Certified for 1610Mhz-1626.5Mhz which includes Iridium exclusive spectrum from roughly 1618Mhz-1626.5Mhz. In other words. "The L Band, is already inside the IPhone 14" No one else has L Band built in, at least that I have seen. It's interesting that Iridium seems to convey that the engineering will be completed and a Service Provider Agreement by "End of Year". Hasn't Apple stated that they expect the satellite direct to handset service to begin "In Q4"?
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