Samsung has developed a technology that allows direct communication between smartphones and satellites, according to a blog post on the company’s website. This technology is called non-terrestrial networks (NTN), which uses satellites and other non-terrestrial vehicles to provide connectivity in remote areas that are difficult for traditional networks to reach.
Samsung states that it’s new NTN technology uses 5G technology and conforms to the latest global standards, which ensures that it will work with devices made by different manufacturers and mobile carriers worldwide. This new technology will be integrated into Samsung’s Exynos modem solutions, which will accelerate the commercialization of 5G satellite communications and pave the way for 6G-driven Internet of Everything (IoE) era.
According to the tech giant, this technology will be helpful in disaster areas and future urban air mobility such as unmanned aircraft and flying cars. It will also be useful for people who live in remote areas and for people who need connectivity in areas where traditional networks do not work.
Samsung has tested and simulated this technology on its Exynos Modem 5300 reference platform and plans to develop modems that can support two-way text messaging, high-definition image, and video sharing. Additionally, Samsung is working on standardized NB-IoT NTN technology for use in future modem platforms. This technology will eliminate the need for a separate high-power wireless antenna chip inside smartphones and provide mobile device makers with greater design flexibility.
Samsung is not the first company with plans for a NTN technology, in fact T-Mobile has already teamed up with SpaceX to provide complete coverage in most places in the US, using SpaceX’s constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to provide connectivity. The new network will use T-Mobile’s midband spectrum, enabling existing smartphones on its network to be compatible with the new service. The partnership follows similar tie-ups between cellphone carriers and satellite providers, such as Verizon’s partnership with Amazon’s Project Kuiper and AT&T’s deal with OneWeb.
