Samsung unveils satellite modem chips to overtake Apple. It has already been speculated in the past that Samsung could implement the smartphone-to-satellite connection on the Galaxy S23, just like Apple did on the iPhone 14, but in the end it didn’t happen: now the company is unveiling a new satellite modem with the NTN 5G standard (non-terrestrial) which will allow two-way communication between smartphones and satellites.
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The technology will allow users to send and receive calls, text messages and data without the need for a cellular network and will be integrated into future Exynos chips from Samsung.
The goal is to allow people to communicate in critical situations even when they are in the mountains, deserts or other remote areas without terrestrial cellular network coverage. NTN 5G is compliant with 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP Release 17) standards, which means it will work with traditional communications services from chip makers, smartphone makers and telecoms.
Not only that, Samsung has indicated that its satellite modem chip could be used to transmit high-definition photos and even video, as well as text messages and calls.
Samsung has simulated the technology and operation of the future satellite modem chip using its Exynos Modem 5300 platform (the same one used in the Pixel 7) “to accurately predict satellite positions and minimize frequency offsets caused by Doppler shift,” it reports. 9to5Google. This will help pave the way for terrestrial-NTN hybrid networks “in preparation for the arrival of 6G,” Samsung Vice President Min Goo Kim said.
At CES 2023, Qualcomm unveiled Snapdragon Satellite, a technology that will allow Android smartphones to send messages when no cellular signal is available. It will work in smartphones that have both Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and Snapdragon X70 modem.
Since Samsung’s Galaxy S23 has both chips, it was thought that the device could offer satellite communication technology to compete even more directly with the iPhone 14. However, Samsung said it was not the best time to implement such technology, since the satellite functionality is still quite limited:
When the time is right, and the infrastructure and technology are ready, then obviously for Samsung Galaxy, for our mobile division, we will consider adopting this feature.
