On July 26th， Beijing experienced heavy rainfall， leading to communication network outages in some areas. A netizen， identified as “Lüzi” (Weibo user @Lüzi Yuzhe)， who was trapped in a disaster-stricken area with no ground signal， successfully self-rescued using the satellite communication function of their Huawei Pura 70 Pro+. Lüzi later shared this experience on Weibo， which garnered significant discussion and attention.
Recently， media outlets have also reported on this incident through video， including a telephone interview with Lüzi. In the video， Lüzi detailed their experience during the disaster and shared survival tips for sudden emergencies.
Mobile Satellite Communication: Fully Accessible and Potentially Life-Saving
Natural disasters often strike unexpectedly， leaving us unprepared for their timing or nature. Lüzi’s experience perfectly illustrates this point. However， it also highlights the crucial emergency value of modern technology in responding to such unforeseen emergencies. As Lüzi aptly put it: “It can truly save lives in critical moments.”
In this particular incident， the Huawei phone’s built-in satellite communication capabilities played a vital role. This is evident not only in Lüzi’s personal account but also in broader usage data. Li Xiaolong， CTO of Huawei’s Terminal BG， stated on social media that during the Beijing floods， the number of users utilizing satellite communication on July 28th and 29th was more than ten times higher than on a normal day.
This observation underscores that in situations where terrestrial networks are down， phones supporting satellite communication can still transmit distress messages and location information， making them an effective emergency tool during extreme weather events.
Among Huawei’s current Pura series models， in addition to the Pura 70 series which was central to this event， the new Huawei Pura 80 series fully supports two-way Beidou satellite messaging. Specifically， the Huawei Pura 80 Pro+ and Huawei Pura 80 Ultra also support Tiantong satellite communication， offering dual-satellite communication backup.
In extreme environments， this dual-satellite capability means users have an additional communication channel， whether through Beidou messages or direct Tiantong satellite calls.
If you own a Huawei phone with satellite communication capabilities， it is highly recommended to enable this feature. Activating satellite communication is straightforward. Here’s a detailed guide:
For Tiantong satellite communication， ensure your phone’s system is updated to the latest version. You can activate the service at a China Telecom business hall or through the China Telecom app. After subscribing to a plan， test the service. During use， ensure the phone’s battery is above 5% and the temperature is below 52℃. Avoid using metal protective cases or pop sockets that might interfere with the signal.
To activate， navigate to your phone’s settings， then tap on “Satellite Network” and “Tiantong Satellite Communication.” For the first use， you’ll need to select a SIM card. Subsequent uses will default to the last selected card， or you can manually switch.
When using the feature， find an open area with no obstructions to connect to the satellite. Follow the on-screen prompts， rotating your phone until the satellite icon enters the blue sector. Adjust the tilt angle to move the small ball to the center of the circle. Maintain this position until a green wave effect indicates a successful connection.
If compass calibration is required during satellite acquisition or communication， slowly rotate your phone in a circle until the small ball completes a full rotation around the circle， and the blue stripes cover the entire circle.
Once connected， maintain your hand position without significant deviation and initiate a satellite call or message as prompted. The operation is similar to regular calls/messages. Each call is limited to 5 minutes， and messages can include location information. Furthermore， both the sender and receiver can select two or more location-tagged message cards from the message history to generate and save a track map to their gallery.
Next， let’s discuss two-way Beidou satellite messaging， which includes Beidou satellite SMS and Changlian Beidou satellite messages. Beidou satellite SMS is available for China Mobile users and also requires prior activation at a China Mobile business hall or via SMS. Beidou satellite SMS supports sending up to 20 custom text messages， as well as pictures and location information.
Changlian Beidou satellite messages support sending up to 16 custom text messages， along with pictures and location information. Notably， in emergency situations， you can utilize the quick help function by selecting “Emergency” and “Physical Condition” tags， specifying the number of companions， and then tapping “Send Now.” Follow the on-screen guidance to aim your phone towards the satellite.
It is important to note that Huawei phones were among the first commercial mobile devices to support satellite services， and their technological advantages and user experience are considered top-tier.
For instance， Tiantong satellite communication not only supports voice and messaging but also features a satellite paging function. Once connected to the satellite， it can remain online continuously， with a connectivity angle of up to 120°. Satellite connection can be established in as little as 9 seconds， with a call latency of approximately 0.7 seconds. Even without actively aiming the phone at the satellite， users can still receive notifications for satellite messages， ensuring important information is not missed.
Technology Empowering Safety and Security
While satellite communication may not be frequently used in daily life， it proves invaluable in special circumstances. In recent years， there have been numerous cases of successful rescues facilitated by satellite communication. For example， a previous incident involved a hiker stranded in a snow-covered wilderness who was rescued after sending a distress signal to teammates using their Huawei Mate 50.
In such scenarios， satellite communication serves as the sole viable channel for stranded individuals to establish temporary contact with the outside world， transmit their location， messages， or even images， thereby gaining precious time for rescue operations.
Finally， a reminder: heavy rain continues in some areas， and during flood season， it is advisable to avoid high-risk areas such as low-lying zones and mountain valleys. In areas with no signal coverage， use reflective objects， flashlights， or SOS signs for signaling. Utilize satellite communication to transmit your location and distress messages， enabling rescue teams to pinpoint your location quickly.
Extreme weather events are unpredictable， but scientific preparedness can effectively mitigate risks. A mobile phone with functioning satellite communication is often a reliable means of ensuring connectivity.
