Huawei’s No-Network Communication Takes Flight: Send Messages and Make Calls Seamlessly in the Air

Huawei has taken a major step toward reshaping how we stay connected— even at 30,000 feet. On December 7, Huawei Terminal BG CTO Li Xiaolong revealed via a social media post that he and his colleagues successfully tested Huawei’s no-network communication feature onboard an aircraft, enabling them to freely send messages and make phone calls in midair without relying on traditional cellular networks.

Li explained that in everyday life, China’s exceptionally strong ground network coverage rarely creates opportunities to test this feature. This in-flight trial, however, offered the perfect real-world scenario to demonstrate the true potential of Huawei’s breakthrough technology.

Based on the photos and details shared, the tested feature appears to be Huawei Changlian’s no-network communication function. According to Huawei’s official website, this feature remains usable even when one or both parties have no network connection, as long as they are Changlian contacts and are within detectable proximity. Users can receive messages or calls from nearby no-network contacts and reply within a 24-hour window once connectivity is restored.

Huawei also revealed impressive performance benchmarks for this technology. On the upcoming Mate 80 series, the maximum communication distance under ideal testing conditions can reach 7 kilometers, while typical open and unobstructed flat-ground environments support stable communication at up to 1 kilometer. These figures are based on Huawei laboratory testing and may vary depending on device models and usage environments.

To use Huawei’s no-network messaging and calling features, specific requirements must be met. The feature is currently supported only on selected models running HarmonyOS 6 or higher. Both the sender and receiver must be Changlian contacts. The function works whether one device or both devices are offline, as long as they remain within StarFlash perceptible range. When offline, users can access the feature by entering Changlian > Contacts—if the no-network communication prompt appears at the top of the screen, the feature is available.

Currently supported devices include the Mate 80 series, Mate X7 series, Mate XTs, the full Pura 80 lineup, as well as the nova 14 Ultra and nova 14 Pro. With this development, Huawei is once again pushing the boundaries of mobile communication—proving that seamless connectivity no longer depends solely on traditional networks, even in the skies.