I don’t think so. It would require more hardware on the phones because they don’t normally have the range. But the existing satellite networks definitely have the capability for this. Since this would be for something like expensive, rare use, the bandwith use would be minimal. One could use the Iridium satellite network easily.
I think it’s either/or—upgrade phone hardware or upgrade the satellites and just the software on the phones. A satellite can see weaker signals by using a more strongly directed antenna. It would require heavier satellites and have narrower coverage that way, but it would work. Possibly very narrow—I don’t have the relevant numbers—but if phones default to repeating their message for long enough then one satellite can still cover a large area by scanning it in a pattern.
If we can spinn it somehow to get goverments to compeet for having the best such coverage that might be a good way to get around the incentive problems.
I think it’s either/or—upgrade phone hardware or upgrade the satellites and just the software on the phones. A satellite can see weaker signals by using a more strongly directed antenna. It would require heavier satellites and have narrower coverage that way, but it would work. Possibly very narrow—I don’t have the relevant numbers—but if phones default to repeating their message for long enough then one satellite can still cover a large area by scanning it in a pattern.
If we can spinn it somehow to get goverments to compeet for having the best such coverage that might be a good way to get around the incentive problems.