The “Emergency SOS Via Satellite” feature implemented by Apple with the iPhone 14 series is gaining popularity. Almost every day, we hear about someone’s life being saved thanks to this feature. This brings users closer to choosing the iPhone when it’s time to buy a new phone. Other smartphone manufacturers, who do not want to lose their users, are also incorporating this feature. For example, Huawei recently announced that it will use the Emergency SOS feature on its new phones. Now, Samsung has taken a similar step on the Android front. Here are the details…

Samsung debuts satellite connectivity for smartphones using the Pixel 7’s modem

Samsung has announced its entry into the satellite connectivity arena for smartphones, following the lead of Apple’s iPhone 14 series. However, the company goes beyond Apple’s, as it enables users to send full messages, pictures, and even videos via satellite. The technology uses 5G NTN (non-terrestrial networks) to communicate, sending data from the smartphone to satellites before transmitting it back down to ground stations for transfer to the intended recipient or emergency services.

Samsung’s Exynos 5300 modem, the same modem used in Google’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, provides the technology to support satellite connectivity. Samsung has developed and simulated 5G NTN standard-based satellite technology on top of this modem, providing proof of concept. However, this functionality will not be available in current Google phones, as Samsung intends to incorporate it into future versions of its Exynos modems.

Earlier this month, Samsung announced that it was holding off on bringing satellite connectivity to its own smartphones until the technology was mature enough. The timing of this Exynos announcement is not ideal for Samsung’s own smartphones, as Galaxy flagships switch to solely using Qualcomm chips on a global scale. Qualcomm also recently announced its own form of satellite connectivity, but it is not yet available on any devices.

Satellite connectivity is poised to become one of the “next big things” in smartphones, providing a way for people to stay connected even in areas without traditional cellular coverage. The ability to send full messages, pictures, and videos via satellite could be particularly useful in emergency situations or remote areas where traditional communication methods are unavailable. With Samsung’s entry into this market, it remains to be seen how this technology will evolve and be adopted by consumers.

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Following Apple and Huawei’s lead, Samsung is also reportedly planning to add a satellite communication feature to the upcoming Galaxy S23 series. The Korean firm is said to be partnering with Iridium, a global satellite communications company, to transmit data such as text messages and low-capacity images via satellite.

South Korean publication Etnews claims Samsung is preparing to introduce satellite communication feature to upcoming Galaxy S23 smartphones with an aim to transmit data such as text messages and low-capacity images at hundreds of kbps.

The publication says, “Over the past two years, Samsung has worked hard to overcome satellite communication’s technological challenges.” It will reportedly be teaming up with Iridium, which is a well-established satellite communications company based in the US. Iridium provides voice and data communication services in outer space using 66 low-Earth orbit communication satellites.

To enable voice and high-speed data communication via satellite, a large antenna (RF) is required, but it is probably the last thing anyone would want to see in a modern-day smartphone. So, the biggest challenge involved with Sat-com is to make an antenna that doesn’t strike out. Etnews says Samsung is done with this part.

In addition, the technology to integrate mobile and satellite communication modems to process digital data is also reported to be largely completed. Samsung is yet to confirm any details about this new feature.

As mentioned, Huawei and Apple have already introduced the satellite communication feature with their latest flagships. iPhone 14 users in the US and Canada can use this new feature to communicate with emergency services when cellular reception is not available. The Cupertino company says in ideal conditions with a direct view of the sky and the horizon, a message sent via Sat-com might take 15 seconds to send, and over a minute to send under trees with light or medium foliage.

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