Last Update: February 24, 2023, 19:33 IST
MediaTek is bringing the tech to MWC 2023
MediaTek is joining the likes of Apple, Qualcomm and Samsung to offer this feature this year.
Apple started the journey and soon satellite connectivity on smartphones is going to be a standard. Qualcomm has already announced its technology to support the feature and now MediaTek is set to join the ranks this week.
MediaTek is going to show its potential on mobile World Congress 2023 (MWC 2023) from next week. Android phones using MediaTek chipsets may offer this feature to consumers later this year.
Satellite connectivity allows people to send messages from remote corners of the globe where the network is not available. You can notify law enforcement or emergency services to assist you. But while Apple has focused on one-way messaging via satellite, Qualcomm and Samsung claim their satellite technology provides two-way messaging.
MediaTek is also going to follow these giants and will cater to the needs of the users in both the ways. MediaTek is bringing 3GPP non-terrestrial networks (NTN) to its chipsets for smartphones. But the company has mentioned that it sees possibilities for this technology beyond smartphones and could also be in cars.
MediaTek has confirmed that a brand called Bullitt will launch the first MediaTek-powered phone with satellite connectivity in the market. Other prominent names may join the list in the coming months.
We already know that Android 14 will support satellite technology natively, making it easier for chip makers to develop the feature into their chips. Apple has used Globalstar to power its satellite technology which is available on the iPhone 14 series. Qualcomm announced its technology earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show 2023 (CES 2023).
It is bringing the technology with the help of Iridium Satellite Communications which is providing its L-band spectrum Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites for worldwide communication. Phones with this feature will start rolling out in the second half of 2023. Most people using a smartphone won’t feel the need for this feature, but it’s good to see smartphone hardware becoming powerful enough to handle satellite communications.
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