MediaTech the last company to step on the bandwagon satellite communications on smartphones. The Taiwanese manufacturer has announced that it will present its 3GPP NTN technology at MWC 2023, which will bring two-way satellite communications to Android mobile devices. The idea is that people can send text messages or ask for help in areas where there is no cellular signal.
Satellite communication on Android it will be possible thanks to the MT6825 chipcapable of connecting to GEO (Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit) constellations that can become a 3GPP NTN compliant network. Chip allows receive messages automatically, without the need for manual verification. In terms of hardware, its requirements are very low, so it won’t consume much power.
According to MediaTek, The chips can be added to any 4G or 5G device and use the 3GPP R17 NTN standard.. The latter would give an advantage over Apple, since it’s an open technology and not the owner. This means that if a device is certified for 3GPP R17 IoT-NTN, it can be used on any supported network. Operators will be able to work with service providers to build their own satellite networks that support the standard.
Two-way satellite communications on smartphones and other devices will usher in a new era of connectivity and open up new opportunities in many different verticals. Based on the 3GPP NTN open standard, our MT6825 standalone chipsets can be integrated into any flagship smartphone to provide seamless satellite connectivity.
MediaTech
How does satellite communication work on Android phones with a MediaTek chip?
MediaTek has announced that it will focus its efforts on 3GPP 5G based IoT-NTN and NR-NTN technologies. First designed for low data rate connections and works well for messaging, while the second supports higher speeds and allows you to make video calls. The purpose of using communications as emergency support is based on the fact that current satellite networks only support large scale IoT-NTN.
The first Android smartphones with MediaTek MT6825 processor are Motorola Defy 2 and CAT S75. The company has signed an agreement with Bullit, a satellite communications service that will provide messaging, shared location and SOS calling services. It should be noted that these terminals belong to the category lastingwhich are drop, dust and water resistant mobile phones designed for people doing outdoor activities.
The Taiwanese manufacturer isn’t the only one working on satellite communications for Android. Qualcomm announced a few months ago that it will bring this benefit phones with built-in Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and X70 modem. Unlike MediaTek and Apple, Qualcomm will operate over the Iridium satellite network, which currently powers satellite phones, messaging and tracking devices.
Although the first steps of satellite communication in smartphones are focused on emergency messages, manufacturers They already envision a future where we can make calls or surf the web.. MediaTek will do the trick with its 5G New Radio NTN technology, and Apple has filed a patent for a satellite-mounted device that enables voice calls and internet connections.
Source: Hiper Textual
I’m Ben Stock, a highly experienced and passionate journalist with a career in the news industry spanning more than 10 years. I specialize in writing content for websites, including researching and interviewing sources to produce engaging articles. My current role is as an author at Gadget Onus, where I mainly cover the mobile section.
