Android Phones To Get A Major Upgrade Thanks To Satellite Connectivity

A partnership between Iridium, a company that specializes in satellite phones, and Qualcomm, a leading chip manufacturer, will bring satellite connectivity to premium Android smartphones in the near future. This will enable users to send and receive messages in areas where there is no mobile coverage by connecting to passing satellites. Qualcomm's chips are found in many Android-powered smartphones. Apple also announced plans to include a satellite feature in the iPhone 14, set to be released in September 2022. The service is currently only available for sending and receiving basic text messages in emergency situations. Bullitt, a British smartphone maker, was the first to launch its own satellite service, but it is also intended for emergency use and will only be available in selected areas upon initial rollout.

The partnership between Iridium and Qualcomm will make the satellite service more widely available to smartphone users, regardless of brand, but it will be up to the manufacturers to enable it. Iridium was the original satellite phone system, launching its first satellite in 1997. In 2019, the company completed a refresh of its network of 75 spacecraft. The satellites cover the entire globe and fly in low orbit at around 485 miles (780km) above the Earth. They are able to communicate with one another, passing data between them.

Qualcomm has stated that at first, the new feature, called Snapdragon Satellite, will only be incorporated into its premium chips, so it is unlikely to appear in budget devices. However, the company plans to eventually roll out the feature to tablets, laptops, and vehicles, and it will also no longer be restricted to emergency communication. However, it is likely that there will be a fee for this service.

Satellite connectivity is considered to be the next step for mobile phones as it addresses the issue of "not-spots" or areas with no existing coverage, which are often found in rural or remote locations. It has already been successfully utilized to provide broadband coverage by companies such as Starlink. Satellite broadband is fast and generally reliable but more expensive than cable or fiber connections. The use of this feature will be subject to local government regulations as countries such as India and China prohibit the use of satellite phones.