FAQs about the operations of Tiantong Satellite Communications

Environment and conditions

To use this feature, which conditions should be met?

This feature is intended for use in areas with no network coverage. Before using this feature, please move to an open, obstruction-free outdoor area.

Why is it recommended that I move to an open, obstruction-free area before using this feature?

The Tiantong satellite may be in the southwest, southeast, or due south depending on the location you are using the feature. Please point your phone at the direction following the instructions on your phone.

Can I use this feature in extreme environments such as seas and deserts?

Tiantong Satellite Communications can be used in seas and deserts if preconditions are met. For details about the satellite coverage, please contact your carrier.

Can I use this feature indoors or in a vehicle?

Satellite signals will be blocked in such situations. Therefore the satellite signals received by the phone will be too weak to use Tiantong Satellite Communications. It is recommended that you move to an open outdoor area (180° southward) before using this feature.

Which factors are related to the signal strength of the Tiantong satellite? Why does calling fail sometimes?

The satellite signal strength depends on environmental factors such as location, weather, and obstacles. For example, trees, buildings, thick clouds, and signal towers may block the transmission and reception of satellite signals. Please move to an open, obstruction-free outdoor area, point your device towards the south, and try again.

Which permissions need to be granted to use this feature?

The location information (GPS) permission is needed. Once a Tiantong Satellite Communications connection is established, your precise location information will be uploaded to the corresponding carrier.

Network environment and conditions

Does Tiantong Satellite Communications support network access?

Network access is not supported.

Can I use this feature only when there is no network connection?

This feature can be used whether there is a network or not. However, satellite resources are limited. It is recommended that you use your phone's network first.

Why can't I use this feature in Airplane mode? Can I use it on an airplane?

Tiantong Satellite Communications is a communications method, and is unavailable in Airplane mode like all other communication methods for the safety of you and others.

Can I send an SMS message or make a call if no signal bar is displayed?

After your device is connected to the Tiantong satellite, the number of signal bars corresponds to a signal strength. If no signal bar is displayed, it indicates that the Tiantong signal strength is weak, which will affect the success rate of sending SMS messages and making calls and the sound effect of calls. However, there is still a possibility that SMS messages and calls can be successfully sent and made.

Why are signal bars still displayed without pointing the device at the satellite? Why does the connection succeed without pointing the device at the satellite?

You can point your device at the satellite for the strongest Tiantong satellite signals, or the signal strength will become weaker. However, it does not necessarily mean that no signal is available.

Service conflicts

Which of the following features cannot be used at the same time when Tiantong Satellite Communications is in use?

1. Once Tiantong Satellite Communications is enabled, Wi-Fi, mobile data, location, Huawei Share, personal hotspot, wireless projection, and Airplane mode will be disabled. You won't be able to manually enable them while using this feature. Once you disable this feature, the original settings will be automatically restored.

2. Once Tiantong Satellite Communications is enabled, NFC and BeiDou Satellite Messaging will be disabled.

Tiantong Satellite Communications requires long-range signal transmissions, which are easily affected by the preceding features. Therefore, these features are disabled for stronger Tiantong satellite signals.

Is Bluetooth/NearLink available when the feature is in use?

Bluetooth/NearLink is still available when Tiantong Satellite Communications is in use.

Can I use Tiantong Satellite Communications in PrivateSpace?

Tiantong Satellite Communications is unavailable in PrivateSpace.

Can I use Tiantong Satellite Communications in Thermal safety mode?

Tiantong Satellite Communications is unavailable in Thermal safety mode.

Can I use Tiantong Satellite Communications in Emergency mode?

Tiantong Satellite Communications is unavailable in Emergency mode.

Can I use Tiantong Satellite Communications during a call over a mobile network or Wi-Fi network?

Tiantong Satellite Communications is unavailable during a call over a mobile network or Wi-Fi network.

Why is there no SIM card in the signal bar when I use Tiantong Satellite Communications?

When Tiantong Satellite Communications is used, its icon will be displayed in the status bar.

Tiantong Satellite Communications requires long-range signal transmissions, which are easily affected by cellular services. Therefore, the mobile data network of the corresponding SIM card will be disabled. If dual SIM cards are used, the mobile data connection of the other SIM card will also be disabled.

When dual SIM cards are inserted, can one SIM card be connected to the Tiantong satellite network and the other SIM card be connected to the terrestrial network?

Unfortunately, no. Tiantong Satellite Communications requires long-range signal transmissions, which are easily affected by cellular services. Therefore, cellular services cannot be used.

After I connect my phone to a Bluetooth device and play music, why does Bluetooth playback stutters when I enable or disable Tiantong Satellite Communications?

This is a normal occurrence. Huawei has applied an optimization solution to avoid the interference of the Bluetooth antenna to the Tiantong satellite network. However, Bluetooth playback may still stutter slightly when you enable or disable Tiantong Satellite Communications.

SMS service

What are the differences between Tiantong satellite SMS messages and common SMS messages?

You can send your location information and track maps via Tiantong satellite SMS messages. MMS messages are not supported by Tiantong Satellite Communications.

How can I determine whether an SMS message is sent successfully?

After the SMS message sending progress bar reaches 100%, if no message indicating that the SMS message fails to be sent is displayed and the message is not marked with an exclamation mark (!), the SMS message is sent successfully.

When was the location information carried in the SMS message obtained?

1. The SMS message will carry the location information obtained at the moment the phone is connected to the Tiantong satellite network.

2. The accuracy of the location information depends on the positioning capability of the device.

What will happen if I choose to carry location when sending an SMS message?

If you choose to carry location, the SMS message will include the longitude and latitude of your position, which increases the number of characters in the SMS message.

Is there a limit on the length of an SMS message? Why does the number of SMS messages sent increase after I choose to carry location information?

• Each message can contain up to 70 Chinese characters or 140 English letters. If a message exceeds the maximum, it will be automatically converted into and charged as multiple messages.
• If you choose to carry location, the SMS message will include the longitude and latitude of your position and the link of the map, which increases the number of characters in the SMS message. Two SMS messages will be sent by default.

Why does the message fail to be sent when there are Tiantong satellite signals (with signal bars displayed)?

This may be caused by interference from the surrounding environment (such as cellular network interference). It is recommended that you move to another place and try again.

Why doesn't my phone support thumbnail maps when sending an SMS message?

Thumbnail maps are available only when the sender chose to carry location information and the recipient is using a HUAWEI mobile phone running EMUI 14.0 or later.

Why doesn't my phone support strong reminders when sending an SMS message?

Strong reminders are available only when the recipient is using a HUAWEI mobile phone running EMUI 14.0 or later and the sender's phone number is in the recipient's contacts list.

Why is there an extra segment of characters included in a received message?

The last six letters and digits are the Tiantong satellite SMS message identification code, which can be ignored.

Can I send MMS/voice messages?

MMS and voice messages are not supported.

Call services

Why is the sound quality on Tiantong Satellite Communications calls not as good as that for cellular calls?

The sound quality is related to the satellite signal strength. Due to the long distances and limited bandwidth, Tiantong Satellite Communications calls may be delayed on occasion, and the sound quality may be not as good as that for calls made on mobile networks.

Unable to enable Receiver mode during a call made using Tiantong Satellite Communications

Tiantong Satellite Communications does not support Receiver mode. In this case, you can use wired earphones or Bluetooth earphones to answer calls.

Why is the sound quality of the ringback tone poor when I initiate a call using the Tiantong satellite network?

When you initiate a call using the Tiantong satellite network, the ringback tone is compressed, resulting in poor sound quality.

Why is the sound unclear during the first few seconds of a Tiantong Satellite Communications call?

Due to the long distances and limited bandwidth, there is a quick exchange of information between your device and the network during the first few seconds of a Tiantong Satellite Communications call, which consumes the bandwidth of the call data. Therefore, the sound is intermittent during the first few seconds of a Tiantong Satellite Communications call.

Does Tiantong Satellite Communications support emergency calls?

Yes. After the phone is successfully connected to the Tiantong satellite network, you can dial emergency numbers such as 110/119/120/122.

Can I call a fixed-line phone number via Tiantong Satellite Communications?

Yes. After the phone is successfully connected to the Tiantong satellite network, you can call a fixed-line phone number.

Why does the system display a message indicating that the phone temperature is too high when I try to make a call on the Tiantong satellite network?

Connecting to the long-range Tiantong satellite network results in higher power consumption. As a result, the phone temperature increases rapidly. For safety purposes, the call service will become unavailable when the system displays a message indicating that the phone temperature is too high. You are advised to stop using the phone and resume using it after the phone temperature decreases.

Can I receive Tiantong satellite calls in network-free areas if Tiantong Satellite Communications is disabled?

Unfortunately, no. You have to enable Tiantong Satellite Communications and connect your phone to the Tiantong satellite network before using the call and message services via Tiantong Satellite Communications.

Why can't I send SMS messages during a call on the Tiantong satellite network?

During a Tiantong satellite call, if you send or receive an SMS message, the channel bandwidth will be occupied and the call will be muted.

Why does the prompt tone stutter when I call the China Telecom hotline and enter numbers on the dialer?

Due to the long distances and limited bandwidth, the bandwidth of the call service will be occupied when the dialer data is sent to the carrier network. As a result, stuttering occurs during the call.

I try to make a call immediately after I send an SMS message on the Tiantong satellite network. Why does the call fail?

Sending an SMS message will occupy the link channel. Due to the long distances, it takes a long time to release the channel. A calling failure may occur immediately after sending an SMS message because the link channel has not been released. In this case, please try again.

Why doesn't a call automatically end for the called party after the calling party hangs up a Tiantong satellite call?

Due to the design of the Tiantong satellite network, if a call is not hung up normally, for example, due to the Tiantong Satellite Communication switch turning off during a call, the call may not automatically end for the called party within a short period of time. This does not indicate an issue with the phone. The called party can manually hang up the call.

Why is my phone number displayed as an unknown number on the called party's phone when I make a call on the Tiantong satellite network?

The activation status of the calling line identification presentation (CLIP) service is not synced to the carrier network. Please contact China Telecom for further assistance.

Why does it take so long to make calls and send messages using Tiantong Satellite Communications?

Due to the long distances and limited bandwidth, it takes slightly longer to make calls and send messages. Thank you for your patience.

Why does a Tiantong satellite call fail sometimes?

If the satellite link is unstable, there is a possibility that a Tiantong satellite call fails. Such a call only works when the called party's phone is connected to the Tiantong satellite network. Please try again.

In addition, if a message indicating that the number you dialed does not exist, please contact China Telecom for assistance.

Power consumption

Why does my phone battery die faster after I enable Tiantong Satellite Communications?

Connecting to the long-range BeiDou satellite network results in higher power consumption than when the device is connected to a mobile network. It is recommended that you use the mobile network first (if any).