At the 2026 Mobile World Congress, Huawei and China Telecom’s collaborative mobile phone direct-to-Tiantong satellite project was honored with the GSMA GLOMO International Award for “Best Non-Terrestrial Network Solution.” This innovative technology overcomes the limitations of ultra-long-distance communication by resolving the link loss challenges associated with direct connections between mobile phones and high-orbit satellites. It marks a significant milestone by enabling standard mobile phones to establish direct satellite links.

The technology facilitates high-quality voice calls at an exceptionally low data rate of 800bps, reduces the time required for satellite acquisition and access, and provides 360° omnidirectional communication coverage. Furthermore, it leverages advanced AI integration to enhance communication efficiency, seamlessly bridges satellite and terrestrial networks, and supports a “one-card, multi-network” model, significantly bolstering emergency communication capabilities. Currently, this technology has been implemented across various sectors, supporting a range of domestically manufactured smartphones and in-vehicle systems.