One of the main innovations of the iPhone 14 was the emergence of satellite communications support, even though it is only available for emergency calls in the absence of cellular communication. The manufacturer of mobile processors Qualcomm promised to integrate support for satellite communications in Android smartphones using its chips. However, Samsung does not intend to rush to implement this feature in its devices.
None of the Galaxy S23 supports satellite communications
Yesterday, Samsung officially unveiled the new Galaxy S23 smartphones. All three devices received more modern and powerful processors and other improvements over their predecessors. However, satellite connectivity is not available on any of Samsung’s new offerings. The head of the Samsung mobile division, Roh Tae-moon, noted the prospects for using satellite communications in smartphones. However, in his opinion, at this stage, the technology is not sufficiently mature.
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“When there is the right timing, infrastructure, and the technology [is] ready, then of course for Samsung Galaxy, for our mobile division, we would also actively consider adopting this feature as well,” he said.
He also noted that satellite communications is just one of the technologies that can make smartphones better. Samsung is working to improve the sensors used in the company’s smartphones, as well as expanding 5G coverage to keep users connected, which is especially important in emergency situations.
There are some reasons
Well, in fact, there are several reasons why Samsung has not yet integrated satellite communication technology into its smartphones.
First, satellite communications require specialized hardware, such as a satellite modem and antenna, which would increase the size and cost of the device.
Second, satellite communication technology is still relatively new, and the infrastructure to support it is not yet widespread. This means that there are limited areas where we can use satellite communication. This limits its usefulness for consumers.
Third, the cost of satellite communication services is generally higher than that of terrestrial communication services, making it less accessible to consumers.
Lastly, terrestrial networks are continuously improving, with the rollout of 5G networks, which offer fast and reliable internet speeds. This makes it less necessary for smartphones to have satellite communication capabilities, as consumers can get high-speed internet access from terrestrial networks.