Later this year, premium Android smartphones with satellite connectivity will be available thanks to a new partnership between the satellite phone company Iridium and the chip giant Qualcomm.
It implies that mobile devices can communicate with passing satellites to transmit and receive messages in areas without cell coverage.
Many Android-powered smartphones contain Qualcomm chips.
In September 2022, Apple disclosed that the iPhone 14 would have a satellite feature.
The service is currently only available for sending and receiving basic text messages in an emergency.
Bullitt, a British manufacturer of smartphones, launched its own satellite service first, surpassing Apple to the top spot. It will first be made available in a few regions and is also for emergency usage.
Millions more smartphone users will be able to access the same service through the new partnership without being restricted to a single brand, but it will be up to the manufacturer to make it available.
The first satellite for Iridium was launched into orbit in 1997, making it the first satellite phone service. In 2019, it finished updating its network of 75 spacecraft.
Around 485 miles (780 km) above the surface of the Earth, the satellites fly in a low orbit that covers the entire planet. Groups of satellites can communicate with one another and exchange data.
According to Qualcomm, the new feature , known as Snapdragon Satellite, would only be included in its premium chips; it is therefore unlikely to be seen in low-cost devices.
However, it will soon be extended to tablets, computers, and even cars, and it will also become a service that is not limited to emergency communication, although there may be a fee for this.
Because it addresses the issue of “not-spots,” or places where there is no existing coverage, satellite connectivity is widely seen as the next step for mobile phones. These are typically more prevalent in rural or remote areas.
Services like Elon Musk’s Starlink have already successfully implemented it to deliver broadband coverage.
Although more expensive than cable or fiber connections, satellite broadband is quick and generally reliable.
Due to satellite phone usage bans in places like China and India, use of the feature will be subject to local government regulations.
Author-Roberta Appiah
