Huawei satellite messaging helped Nepal flood victim reach rescuers

KATHMANDU, Nepal — A Huawei phone user in Nepal used the company's satellite messaging feature to contact rescue teams after floods and landslides on August 26 cut off mobile and internet service, according to the user's account on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The user, identified as the owner of a Huawei Mate X5 Collector's Edition, sent a text message via satellite and was evacuated by helicopter to a safe area. The user shared the experience in a comment under a post by Richard Yu, head of Huawei's consumer business group, saying the satellite connection was vital during the disaster. Huawei first introduced satellite-based communication with the Mate 50 series in 2022 and later added features including two-way calling and image sharing. The company is preparing to launch the Mate 90 series.