At CES 2023, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced Snapdragon Satellite, which the company claims is the world’s first satellite-based two-way capable messaging solution for premium smartphones. Snapdragon Satellite will provide global connectivity using mobile messaging from around the world, starting with devices based on the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform. What this means devices like Samsung Galaxy S23 series, iQOO 11, Oppo Reno 10 Pro Plus, Vivo X90 Pro Plus and similar devices will get this capability first. Check out the details.
“Start in premium smartphone By the end of the year, this new addition to our Snapdragon platform is firmly in place we Durga Malladi, senior vice president and general manager, cellular modem and infrastructure, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., said.
What is Snapdragon Satellite?
This new messaging solution is powered by the Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF System and is supported by the fully operational constellation of Iridium satellites. The company claims that Snapdragon Satellite will allow OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and other service providers to provide global coverage. This means that no matter where you are on the planet, you’ll be able to stay connected using this feature, even if you don’t have a mobile network.
The smartphone solution uses Iridium’s weather-resistant L-band spectrum for uplink and downlink. The emergency messaging feature on Snapdragon Satellite is expected to be available on next-generation smartphones, launching in select regions starting in the second half of 2023.
This feature is not exclusive to smartphones. The company revealed that Snapdragon Satellite can expand to other devices, including laptops, tablet, vehicles, and IoT. As the Snapdragon Satellite ecosystem grows, OEMs and application developers can offer unique branded services that take advantage of satellite connectivity. The Snapdragon satellite is planned to support 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN), when the NTN satellite infrastructure and constellations become available.
“Our network is tailored for this service – our advanced LEO satellites cover every corner of the world and support low-power, low-latency connections that are ideal for services satellite-powered service powered by industry-leading Snapdragon Satellite,” said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium.
It should be noted that Apple also includes a similar feature called Satellite Connectivity in the iPhone 14 series, allowing users to contact emergency services even if they don’t have a cellular network using satellite calling. However, this feature is currently not available in India.
