At CES 2023, Qualcomm laid the foundations for Android phones that will feature satellite-based two-way messaging in 2023 and beyond.
Qualcomm chose an area 30 kilometers from Las Vegas to introduce its new system, called Snapdragon Satellite, to a group of tech journalists. Although it is reported that there is a 5G connection in the place where the journalists are taken, there are still large areas of the world without cellular connection.
While Qualcomm, and thus Android phones, are late to the consumer-grade satellite communications party, Qualcomm is getting into this from a different direction. This method can provide emergency satellite communications and rescue services with the help of working partner Garmin. However, Snapdragon Satellite aims to offer satellite-based two-way messaging that perhaps consumers may want to use more.
Based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and Snapdragon X70 5G Modem-RF System, the system will use the new 1616hz and 1620hz bands to communicate with a large network of low earth orbit (LEO) Iridium satellites. Unlike Apple’s system of emergency calls via satellite, which currently only covers North America, Canada, and Europe, Qualcomm and Iridium promise “pole-to-pole” coverage.
The system is used in conjunction with the Snapdragon Satellite App. An existing phone number is accepted as an ID. Also, for now, it seems it’s possible to send a text message via satellite only to someone in the contacts list.
It’s possible that future Android phones will have Qualcomm’s satellite communications system. However, we may have to wait for a while for this feature to be completed and used by smartphone manufacturers.
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