Samsung announces its Exynos modem to offer satellite connection

Samsung follows in the footsteps of the industry imposed by Apple, and the latter is linked to offering the satellite connection to smartphones that use its chips. Manzana was the first company to integrate a satellite connection system to be able to make emergency calls. This technology debuted with the iPhone 14. months later, Qualcomm announced his modem Snapdragon Satellitewhich allowed the integration of a two-way satellite messaging service to Premium smartphones. Now it’s Samsung’s turn.

In this case it is achieved by means of the Exynos Modem 5300 modem. This modem will allow bidirectional satellite communication on smartphones. Hopefully, like Qualcomm, this modem will support two-way messaging for emergencies, SMS text messages, and “other messaging apps“In essence, this new chip will allow users in very remote areas, or in disaster areas, where public services have been disabled, to communicate with the world through non-terrestrial networks (NTN) 5G.

More summarized. If for any reason you run out of terrestrial connectivity, and you have an emergency, you can use the satellites to send an SMS or make an emergency call.

This is what we know about Samsung’s satellite connection system

Continuing with the information, the Exynos Modem 5300 applies the 3GPP Release 17 standard. In Spanish, this guarantees interoperability with emerging telecommunications networks and hardware and software developed by smartphone manufacturers. Baptized as non-terrestrial networks (Non-Terrestrial Networks, hence its acronym NTN), we are really facing a system two-way communication.

This is because our smartphone can send a message to a satellite and “other non-terrestrial vehicles” (beware of UFOs). From that satellite, the signal is transmitted to a ground station so that other users can receive it. It is a two-way communication, so messages can also flow in the opposite direction. In the future, users will be able to send high-resolution photos and videos via satellite.

Being always connected will be the great business linked to the mobile connection

Obviously, having access to it will imply some kind of associated cost. It must be remembered that Apple’s fine print indicates that “The emergency SOS via satellite it’s free for two years after activation of iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro“.

“Samsung wants to lead the advancement of terrestrial-NTN hybrid communication ecosystems around the world to prepare for the arrival of 6G,” said Min Goo Kim, Executive Vice President of Communication Processor Development at Samsung Electronics.

“Samsung has been working on 6G connectivity for years and the South Korean government wants 6G network prototypes to be ready by 2026.”

For now, two-way messaging via satellite for smartphones is only available on iPhone 14 for the US territory. It should also be noted that behind Apple’s technology is Qualcomm itself (it’s your modem).

It is expected that the first devices that take advantage of the use of this technology in Android will arrive during the second half of this year. In this way, it is logical to think that any top-of-the-range smartphone that arrives at the end of the year will already incorporate this technology as a standard.