Earlier today, Samsung announced its own solution for satellite communication on smartphones. The company unveiled the 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) Modem, allowing phones to communicate with satellites in locations where there is no cellular network connection.
The company said it wants to integrate this technology into its own Exynos chip, which is used in many Samsung smartphones, but not the current flagship Samsung Galaxy S23. The Korean tech giant describes this technology as using “satellites and other non-terrestrial vehicles” to provide connectivity in remote areas.
The move follows Apple, which launched satellite connectivity with iPhone 14 and 14 Pro for off-grid connectivity. The company first made this technology available in the US and Canada and later expanded it to France, Germany, Ireland and the UK. Apple relies on Globalstar’s satellite network.
“This milestone builds on our rich heritage in wireless communications technologies, having introduced the industry’s first commercial 4G LTE modem in 2009 and the industry’s first 5G modem in 2018,” said Min Goo Kim, vice president communications processor development at Samsung Electronics. in a statement.
“Samsung aims to lead the way in advancing hybrid terrestrial-NTN communications ecosystems around the world in preparation for the arrival of 6G.”
The current generation of satellite communications technology promises two-way texting and calling for emergencies. But Samsung claims that future versions of its technology will also be able to send photos and videos.
Last month at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Qualcomm announced a partnership with Iridium to enable satellite communications to Android phones powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.