GPS receivers do not transmit information back to the satellites. Presumably these cell phone users will want two-way communication.
Consider that HAMs routinely work insane distances with extremely little power LOS is relatively easy, especially if one side is a satellite with a beefy antenna for both transmission and reception. I'm more interested in the power budget than whether or not they can close the distance and what the effect is on the cell phone's battery life.
GPS receivers in a cell phone work at or under the noise floor, which to me is advanced magic. This will be way above that.