Samsung has developed an NTN (non-terrestrial network) modem technology that they are planning to integrate with the future Exynos SoC. This technology will allow smartphones to have two-way direct communication. It will enable users to send and receive text messages, calls, and data between smartphones and satellites when there is no cellular network nearby.
The traditional communication network was unstable in remote areas like the mountains, deserts, or oceans. This feature was also introduced with the launch of the iPhone 14 Series, and now the upcoming Galaxy smartphone with an Exynos chip might have this functionality. Users in remote areas would be able to send distress messages, especially in critical situations, with Samsung’s new 5G NTN technology.
This is a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP Release 17). This means it will be compatible with and interoperable with traditional communication services. 5G NTN would be helpful in connecting disaster-prone areas by offering this feature to their devices having compatible chips, smartphone makers, and telecom carriers.
This technology will enable two-way texting and even allow high-definition video streaming to smartphones with satellite connectivity. The company successfully tested this new technology by connecting it to an LEO (low-earth orbit) satellite. For this, Samsung used the existing Exynos 5300 5G modem, and previously it was expected to debut with the launch of the Galaxy S23 Series, but it looks like it will arrive with the next-generation Galaxy S24 Series.
Samsung Electronics’s Executive Vice President of CP (Communication Processor) Min Goo Kim said, “This milestone builds on our rich legacy in wireless communications technologies, following the introduction of the industry’s first commercial 4G LTE modem in 2009 and the industry’s first 5G modem in 2018. Samsung aims to take the lead in advancing hybrid terrestrial-NTN communications ecosystems worldwide in preparation for the arrival of 6G.”