Apple's next-generation C2 modem will bring support for 5G satellite connectivity to this year's iPhone 18 Pro models, according to claims from Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital. The account posted on Weibo that the C2 baseband modem will support NR-NTN (New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks), enabling iPhones to connect directly to satellites for internet access.

This marks the first time NR-NTN support has been explicitly tied to Apple's C2 modem as a technical specification. The NR-NTN standard can relate to both direct phone-to-satellite links and using satellites as backhaul for carrier networks to extend coverage into remote areas. While previous reports suggested Apple was working on satellite features, this leak specifically connects the capability to the upcoming modem hardware.

Apple's existing satellite features on iPhone 14 models and newer are limited to Emergency SOS, Find My, Messages, and roadside assistance, all requiring a clear view of the sky. The C2 modem is expected to be more capable than current C1 and C1X chips, potentially featuring mmWave 5G connectivity and performance closer to Qualcomm modem chips. Fixed Focus Digital previously broke the news about the iPhone 16e name, lending credibility to this latest leak about Apple's satellite ambitions.