Qualcomm and Iridium agreed on a partnership to introduce satellite-based messaging to Android phones

In January 2025, Qualcomm Inc entered into an agreement with Iridium Communications Inc to enable satellite-based connectivity to next-generation premium Android smartphones. Further, the company reveals the availability of its Snapdragon Satellite in a certain region from the second half of 2023, running devices using the second-generation Snapdragon 8 mobile platform.

The Snapdragon Satellite provides global coverage from pole to pole and supports SMS texting, other messaging applications, and two-way emergency messaging for various uses, including remote emergencies in rural and offshore locations. Further, Garmin Ltd., a manufacturer of GPS-based devices, will coordinate emergency response services for users.

Through the partnership, other devices that require the ability to send international messages will be able to use emergency and two-way satellite messaging in addition to smartphones. OEMs and other service providers will be able to provide global coverage owing to Snapdragon Satellite, which is endorsed by the fully functional Iridium satellite constellation and backed by Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF Systems. Iridium's L-band spectrum, which is weather-resistant, is used for both uplink and downlink in the smartphone solution.

Other devices, such as laptops, tablets, cars, and the Internet of Things, can use Snapdragon Satellite in addition to smartphones. As the Snapdragon Satellite ecosystem expands, OEMs and app developers can distinguish and offer distinctive branded services by utilizing satellite connectivity. As NTN satellite infrastructure and constellations become available, Snapdragon Satellite is intended to support 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).

Currently, this concept is being implemented by satellite businesses and mobile operators. Apple was the first company to develop such a mobile-satellite communication service, as the company introduced satellite messaging in November 2022 in some countries of the USA and Canada. Even so, this company's phones are the only ones that support messaging. And it can take anywhere between 15 seconds to 3 minutes to send a message. Companies are working to develop a chip that enables communication with satellites efficiently. Additionally, adding next-generation satellite capabilities to 5G mobile networks enables mobile satellite operators to play a crucial role in the developing 5G ecosystem.

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