Ryan Haines/Android Authority
Earth-to-satellite communication from the palm of your hand is no longer a thing of spy novels and sci-fi television. The newer iPhone can already connect to satellites in times of emergency and now, chip maker Qualcomm is working on bringing the technology to Android phones as well. We first heard about the Snapdragon Satellite in early 2023 and were the first phones with it on hand.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Snapdragon Satellite, how it works, and what kind of impact it might have on your smartphone use.
What is a Snapdragon satellite?
As the name suggests, the Snapdragon Satellite is Qualcomm’s entry into the ground-to-satellite communication arena. The vast majority of Android smartphones already run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon family, which means the feature will have a wider reach than Apple’s satellite connection in the latest iPhone. In fact, it is expected that all 5G-equipped Qualcomm chipsets will roll out in the future. Yes, even the lower-end Series 4 chips.
Just like the other smartphone satellite connectivity options we’ve seen so far, the Snapdragon Satellite isn’t meant to replace your cell phone plan. Instead, it’s only for those times when you lose cellular coverage and Wi-Fi. Maybe when you are lost in the wilderness or relaxing on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean.
The Snapdragon Satellite won’t replace your cellular plan, especially since it doesn’t support voice or data.
Needless to say, satellite communication is expensive and slow, so you can’t use it for everything. According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon Satellite will first support emergency messages, with regular messages to follow after that.
When you need to contact emergency services, the feature will first connect to the Garmin Response System. It will then forward your GPS coordinates to local first responders.
Later, the Snapdragon Satellite will also allow you to send and receive regular text messages (although there is no voice call or mobile data support). But there is a problem – no limit of 140 bytes per message. While this may seem a bit limiting, it’s a bit better than Apple’s solution, which only works with Emergency SOS at the moment.
How does the Snapdragon satellite work?
Ryan Haines/Android Authority
Qualcomm says its flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC is already compatible with satellite connectivity. However, the feature is not ready or publicly available yet.
In terms of how the technology works from a technical perspective, Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon X70 5G modem brings support for new ultra-high frequency bands. These allow the phone to communicate directly with low orbit satellites in the sky. Since these satellites are placed higher than your typical terrestrial cell tower, they can provide coverage across a much wider area.
Like Garmin, Qualcomm uses the Iridium cluster for the Snapdragon Satellite.
Qualcomm has partnered with Iridium Communications, a Virginia-based company that operates a constellation of 66 satellites. If the name Iridium sounds familiar, that’s because Garmin also uses the company’s satellites for its inReach communications. Regardless, it’s similar to Apple’s partnership with Globalstar, which has a competing constellation of 48 satellites. However, Qualcomm and Iridium have an advantage – you will be able to use the Snapdragon Satellite in more parts of the world.
Unlike the iPhone’s satellite connection that won’t work above a certain latitude, Qualcomm boasts pole-to-pole coverage. If you live in northern Canada or Alaska, that might make the Snapdragon Satellite more viable. However, the service will only be offered in North America and Europe, at least initially.
From the demo we saw at CES 2023, we know you’ll be able to use your existing phone number for texting even while on satellite. So it’s possible that Qualcomm has teamed up with carriers as well.
What Android phones support Snapdragon Satellite?
You might be wondering if manufacturers could simply roll out a software upgrade to enable Snapdragon Satellite on existing Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones. But alas, that does not seem likely. In addition to the appropriate chipset and modem, smartphones will also need to include special antenna hardware. Simply put, don’t expect all 2023 flagship smartphones to support it. The Galaxy S23 Ultra, for example, doesn’t support the necessary bands.
Most current Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones will not get satellite connectivity.
However, Qualcomm will likely push to bring the Snapdragon Satellite to market soon as it is already competing in a crowded segment. Along with Apple’s own initiative, US carrier T-Mobile has partnered with SpaceX to provide satellite coverage for its medium-band network in the near future. It promises to bring satellite connectivity to all current 5G smartphones, not just those with modems and specialized hardware.
Once the Snapdragon Satellite is on, you will likely have to use a special menu or interface to help you orient your smartphone in line with the overhead satellites. The image above shows what it looks like when using Apple’s satellite connection on the iPhone 14. Establishing a link can take a few seconds, especially if you have obstructions between you and the sky. According to Qualcomm, even leaves or tree cover can cause a delay of about ten seconds per message.
Pricing for Snapdragon Satellite Text Messages will depend on individual handset manufacturers. However, Qualcomm said that using the feature to call emergency services will be available at no cost or for a low fee.
We can only speculate at what the Snapdragon Satellite’s premium messaging will cost. For some context, though, Garmin’s inReach plan costs $15 per month for unlimited SOS messages and 10 text messages.