On September 8, 2021, Huawei Mate 60 Pro series mobile phones launched the “satellite voice call” function for the first time. This function requires cooperation with operators, and China Telecom was the first to launch the "mobile phone direct connection to satellite" service.
China Telecom users can add direct-connect satellite services to their ordinary mobile phone card packages. The prices for this service are as follows:
The cost of direct satellite function is 10 yuan/month
Direct satellite voice package charges 200 yuan for 50 minutes
Direct satellite voice package charges 300 yuan for 100 minutes
Direct connection satellite voice package charges 500 yuan for 200 minutes
If users do not subscribe to a voice package, they will be charged for each call they make and receive. In China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), the call fee is 9 yuan per minute.
It is reported that currently only China Telecom signal card users can use mobile phone direct connection satellite services. All users who use China Telecom's package can apply for this service. There is no need to change numbers or cards. They only need to activate the direct satellite connection function to use it.
China Telecom stated that the mobile phone direct connection satellite service is the exclusive advantage of China Telecom's Tiantong-1 satellite operation, supporting ground 4G, 5G and Tiantong-1 satellite communication functions, achieving the goal of "5G + satellite" integrated communications. Tiantong satellite signals cover all of China's territory and territorial waters, so it can also provide wider coverage. Users who need to use satellite direct connection service must use a mobile phone terminal that supports this service.
In addition to the IoT card and segment 174, all China Telecom users can activate the direct satellite connection function. As long as they use a mobile phone terminal that supports the mobile phone direct connection satellite function, they can enjoy this service. It should be noted that special provinces such as Xinjiang, Chongqing, Shanxi, Tibet, Ningxia, Jiangxi, Shaanxi and Gansu do not currently support online acceptance. If you need to apply for this service, please consult the offline business hall.
The detailed billing plan is as follows:
The direct satellite function fee is 10 yuan/month; 2 minutes of free call between the calling party and the called party. The standard domestic (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) call rate is 9 yuan/minute; the cost of sending text messages is 5 yuan/text, and receiving text messages is free.
The standard rate for international calls is 20 yuan/minute for the calling party and the called party, and 50 yuan/minute for the calling party and international satellite phone (Maritime Satellite, Yuexing, Eurostar, etc.).
The direct connection satellite function subscription takes effect immediately, and the function fee is charged once. Unsubscription also takes effect immediately, but the function fee for that month will not be refunded.
Monthly voice package: 200 yuan for 50 minutes/300 yuan for 100 minutes/500 yuan for 200 minutes. These voice packages are one-time, effective immediately, valid for 31 days (from the date of ordering), and cannot be canceled once ordered. If the usage time is exceeded, you will need to continue to pay according to the above standards.
In short, China Telecom's mobile phone direct connection satellite service provides users with a more reliable communication method, allowing users to communicate even in no network signal or unreliable network environment. For more information, users can go to China Telecom’s official website or call the customer service hotline.