Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has developed technology that will enable its future smartphones to access satellite internet services. 

Samsung previewed the technology today. The announcement comes not long after Apple Inc., the company’s top rival in the handset maker, introduced a satellite-powered emergency messaging service for iPhones. The service allows users to contact emergency services even when there is no cell tower nearby. 

According to Samsung, its satellite connectivity technology is based on the latest 3GPP release of the 5G networking standard. Development of 3GPP was finalized last year. The release is the first iteration of the 5G standard that supports satellite communications and also includes other new features, including power efficiency improvements.

In an internal test, Samsung simulated its new satellite connectivity technology on its Exynos Modem 5300 modem chip. The chip is designed mainly for connecting handsets to standard 5G networks. According to the company, the simulation demonstrated that its new technology could in the future enable users to send text messages, images and videos over satellite connections.

“This milestone builds on our rich legacy in wireless communications technologies, following the introduction of the industry’s first commercial 4G LTE modem in 2009 and the industry’s first 5G modem in 2018,” said Min Goo Kim, executive vice president of communication processor development at Samsung. “Samsung aims to take the lead in advancing hybrid terrestrial-NTN communications ecosystems around the world in preparation for the arrival of 6G.”

Samsung plans to bring the technology to market with future iterations of its Exynos Modem chip series. The series, which is manufactured by its foundry business, ships with a subset of its Galaxy smartphones.

Exynos Modem chips include multiple components. Besides a modem, the chip also provides an RF frontend, the set of circuits responsible for turning radio signals picked up by a handset’s antenna into electronic data that can be understood by its processor. Additionally, there is a dedicated module for optimizing power usage. 

Accessing satellite internet services requires a smartphone to include not only a modem chip, but also an advanced wireless antenna. Usually, chipmakers implement that antenna as a separate chip. However, Samsung plans to take a different approach with its newly detailed satellite connectivity technology. 

The company detailed today that the technology will use a network standard called NB-IoT NTN. The standard removes the need to include a standalone antenna chip in handsets. According to Samsung, reducing the number of components necessary to provide satellite connectivity will make it easier for handset makers to implement the feature in their devices.

Samsung not only uses Exynos Mode chips in its own devices but also sells them to other companies. One of its customers is Google LLC. The search giant’s latest Pixel smartphones, which debuted last October, include the Exynos Modem 5300 chip on which Samsung simulated its satellite connectivity features.

Qualcomm Inc., another major supplier of mobile networking chips, also introduced a satellite connectivity feature recently. It uses a satellite constellation operated by Iridium Communications Inc. to provide wireless connectivity. Qualcomm expects the feature to become available on mobile devices in the second half of 2023. 

Photo: Samsung