Huawei Tests In-Flight Offline Calling, Extending Its HarmonyOS Ecosystem
Huawei has successfully tested an offline communication feature that allows voice calls and messaging on airplanes without relying on cellular or Wi-Fi networks, underscoring the company’s push to deepen user dependence on its HarmonyOS ecosystem.
On 7 December 2025, Bruce Lee, CTO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, said he and colleagues completed in-flight tests of the “no-network” mode of Huawei’s MeeTime service, achieving uninterrupted calling and messaging during the flight.
Lee said the seamless experience in the air contrasted with his limited need for the feature on the ground, where domestic operators’ coverage is extensive, highlighting aviation, remote travel and network-constrained environments as the most immediate use cases.
While the tests are still confined to Huawei’s own hardware and software stack, the feature points to a potential new layer of short-range connectivity that could differentiate Huawei handsets in China’s premium smartphone market.
Device-to-Device Connectivity Without a Network
Huawei’s offline MeeTime capability enables direct device-to-device communication when one or both parties lack network access, provided both are within range and are registered as MeeTime contacts.
According to Huawei’s description, the feature works alongside normal network functions. When a user has connectivity, the device can still receive messages or calls sent by nearby offline users and respond within 24 hours, creating a bridge between connected and disconnected devices.
The system relies on Huawei’s “Starflash” technology, a short-range communication standard designed to operate within a detectable range between compatible devices. In practical terms, this allows users in the same physical vicinity—such as on an aircraft cabin—to maintain contact even when conventional networks are unavailable.
Range and Performance Limits
Huawei’s internal tests show that, under “extreme model” conditions, Mate 80-series handsets can support chatting and calling at distances of up to 7km in offline MeeTime mode.
In laboratory tests conducted in open, unobstructed and flat environments, the effective communication range was about 1km, with Huawei noting that real-world performance varies by device and scenario.
The in-flight test shared by Lee did not include quantitative performance data, but his comments suggested that everyday calling and messaging functions behaved similarly to use on the ground with network access, from a user experience standpoint.
Restricted to HarmonyOS 6 and Selected Models
The feature is only available on selected Huawei devices running HarmonyOS 6 or later, underscoring the company’s strategy of tying advanced capabilities tightly to its proprietary operating system and hardware.
Handsets currently supporting offline MeeTime include the Mate 80 series, Mate X7 series, Mate XTs, Pura 80 series, nova 14 Ultra and nova 14 Pro. Actual support may vary by model, Huawei says.
To use the feature, both sender and receiver must be mutual MeeTime contacts and within Starflash’s detectable range. Offline communication becomes available when either one or both devices have no network access. Users can confirm availability via a “MeeTime offline communication” indicator at the top of the contacts interface in the MeeTime app.