Smartphone Hardware Bringing Satellite Connectivity Closer to the Mainstream

The expansion of satellite capability is creating new requirements across the handset architecture. Modems, antennas, software and network provisioning must work together before a smartphone can reliably use satellite connectivity. Smartphone Ecosystems are therefore becoming an important part of the wider satellite and mobile convergence story. The emerging hardware direction includes:

• NTN capable modem platforms integrated into consumer devices.
• Antenna systems designed to support satellite links alongside terrestrial connectivity.
• Device software capable of recognising and managing satellite network availability.
• Operator and service provisioning that determines which satellite capabilities a device can access.

Qualcomm’s 2026 X105 5G Modem RF platform illustrates this direction by integrating standards based Non Terrestrial Network capability into a modem platform designed for consumer devices. At the operating system level, Android has also introduced satellite support into its telephony framework, showing that the transition extends beyond hardware alone.

Operating Systems and Operators Expanding the Device Layer

Satellite functionality increasingly depends on coordination between handset software and mobile network services. Smartphone Ecosystems must account for network selection, service entitlement and device configuration alongside the underlying satellite radio connection. This makes the smartphone a more active participant in managing the transition between terrestrial and satellite access. The ecosystem is broadening through several developments:

• Operating systems are adding frameworks for satellite communication and network management.
• Chipset vendors are integrating NTN capabilities into newer modem platforms.
• Smartphone manufacturers are introducing satellite support across selected device ranges.
• Mobile operators and satellite providers are developing service arrangements around compatible handsets.

Smartphone Hardware and Software Building a Broader Satellite Stack

The transition toward satellite connected handsets is extending beyond modem capability into the wider device architecture. Smartphone Ecosystems now involve coordination between chipset vendors, operating system developers, handset manufacturers, mobile operators and satellite providers. This creates multiple dependencies that must work together before satellite connectivity can become a reliable part of everyday mobile service. Android 15 and later provides platform support for satellite connectivity, including emergency services, messaging, location sharing and constrained data routing. Its satellite telephony stack interacts with the device modem through a standardised hardware interface, while network configuration can also be managed through carrier settings and GSMA service entitlement mechanisms. This shows that satellite access is becoming embedded deeper into the operating system and network management layers. The ecosystem requirements increasingly include:

• NTN capable modem platforms and compatible radio hardware.
• Antenna performance suitable for satellite links.
• Operating system support for satellite network selection and routing.
• Service entitlement and operator provisioning.
• Device certification and interoperability testing.

Qualcomm’s 2026 X105 5G Modem RF platform further illustrates the hardware direction, integrating standards based NTN capability into a modem platform intended for consumer devices. The development indicates that satellite connectivity is increasingly being incorporated into mainstream modem roadmaps rather than remaining a specialised device function.

Multiple Device Makers Expanding the Emerging Satellite Market

The handset market is also becoming more diverse. Counterpoint Research reported that more than 10 smartphone brands were offering satellite connectivity by April 2026, while the market remained concentrated among premium devices. Smartphone Ecosystems are therefore expanding, but adoption is developing unevenly across manufacturers and price segments. Counterpoint’s 2025 shipment data shows the early market concentration:

• Apple accounted for 71.6% of satellite capable smartphone shipments.
• Samsung represented 15.9%.
• Huawei accounted for 6.1%.
• Google represented 2.2%.
• HONOR accounted for 1.9%.

Counterpoint also identifies Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, HONOR and vivo among Android manufacturers aligning with 3GPP NTN approaches, while Apple, Huawei and Google have largely used proprietary satellite systems. The distinction matters because proprietary architectures can support tightly integrated services earlier, while standards based approaches are intended to support broader interoperability and scale. Smartphone Ecosystems are consequently developing along two paths: proprietary satellite implementations that already support selected services and standards based NTN systems designed to connect more devices and networks through common technical frameworks. The distribution shows that satellite capable smartphone shipments were concentrated among a small group of manufacturers in 2025, while the wider OEM ecosystem was beginning to expand.

Smartphone Ecosystems Broadening the Satellite Connectivity Layer

Satellite functionality is becoming increasingly embedded across the handset hardware, software and service stack. Smartphone Ecosystems are moving beyond isolated satellite features toward broader interoperability between devices, operators and satellite networks, although proprietary and standards based approaches are still developing in parallel.The direction is becoming clearer:

• Modem and antenna capabilities are bringing satellite connectivity into mainstream device architectures.
• Operating system support is integrating satellite functions into wider mobile software frameworks.
• Expanding device participation is creating a broader base for satellite enabled services.

As satellite capabilities mature across smartphones, the next opportunity extends beyond consumer handsets toward enterprise satellite connectivity, where satellite links can support organisations operating across remote and mobile environments.

References

1. Counterpoint Research – Smartphones With Satellite Connectivity to Reach 46 Percent of Global Shipments by 2030 – 2026
2. Android Open Source Project – Satellite connectivity – 2026
3. Qualcomm – Qualcomm Announces 5G Advanced Leap with Qualcomm X105 5G Modem RF – 2026

The South Korean operator proposed “AI Agent Approval over RCS” as a formal standards agenda item within the GSMA RCS group, the consultative body where global carriers, device makers, platform companies and business messaging operators collaborate on technical specifications for Rich Communication Services. The proposal was tabled during a face-to-face standards meeting hosted by SK Telecom at its Seoul headquarters from September 15 to 18, 2026. Representatives from 16 companies attended, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Orange, Apple, Google, Samsung Electronics and officials from the GSMA Secretariat, with 33 working-level participants in total.

A Verified Approval Channel Built on the RCS Standard

At the heart of SK Telecom’s proposal is the idea that RCS messaging can serve as a dedicated approval channel whenever an AI agent needs a user’s consent before completing a transaction. Today, if the verification step happens entirely inside an AI service, it can be vulnerable to malfunctions or external manipulation. There is also the practical problem that approval methods differ from one AI agent to another, making it difficult for users to judge whether a given request is legitimate.

Under the proposed RCS standard framework, only pre-registered and verified corporations would be able to display their name and logo within the approval message. This means a user would see clear, authenticated branding before deciding whether to proceed. The message itself could include a product image alongside an approval control, allowing the user to review order details and the payment amount and then authorize execution without leaving the default messaging application. Because the approval request and the user’s response remain stored in the smartphone’s conversation list, there is a built-in record that can be reviewed at any time.

Consider a practical scenario: an AI agent arranges a product purchase on a user’s behalf. Before the payment is finalized, the user receives an RCS message showing the item, the price and the name of the verified seller. The user taps to approve, and the AI agent completes the transaction. Convenience is preserved, yet the user retains direct judgment at the decisive moment.

The significance of establishing a shared RCS standard for AI agent approvals extends well beyond a single operator. As AI agents begin performing more actions across different platforms, carriers and geographies, inconsistent verification methods could erode user trust and fragment the experience. A common RCS standard would offer interoperability, ensuring that the same approval mechanism works regardless of the carrier, device or AI service involved.

Yoo Kyung-sang, head of SKT AI CIC, said, “The more AI can do on behalf of users, the more important the touchpoint becomes where users directly check critical information and make the final decision.” He added that SK Telecom will work with global partners to make standards discussions more concrete so messaging can evolve into a trust-based channel connecting AI agents and users.

It is important to note that the proposal is currently under discussion as an agenda item within the GSMA RCS group. It has not been adopted as a finalized global standard, and broader deployment of AI agent transaction verification over RCS remains a future prospect rather than present reality.

To enable the service, the CCMI joint venture is working to develop and deploy the standards-based, interoperable messaging service starting with Android and expected in 2020. Working with its carrier ownership group and other companies in the RCS ecosystem, the CCMI service will:

• Drive a robust business-to-consumer messaging ecosystem and accelerate the adoption of Rich Communications Services (RCS)
• Enable an enhanced experience to privately send individual or group chats across carriers with high quality pictures and videos
• Provide consumers with the ability to chat with their favorite brands, order a rideshare, pay bills or schedule appointments, and more
• Create a single seamless, interoperable RCS experience across carriers, both in the U.S. and globally

“People love text messaging for a reason. Texting is trusted, reliable and readily available—which is why we’re using it to build the foundation of a simple, immersive messaging experience,” said David Christopher, executive vice president and general manager, AT&T Mobility. “This service will power new and innovative ways for customers to engage with each other and their favorite brands.”

“The CCMI will bring a consistent, engaging experience that makes it easy for consumers and businesses to interact in an environment they can trust,” said Michel Combes, President & CEO of Sprint. “As we have seen in Asia, messaging is poised to become the next significant digital platform. CCMI will make it easy for consumers to navigate their lives from a smartphone.”

“At the Un-carrier, customers drive everything we do, and that’s no different here,” said John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile. “Efforts like CCMI help move the entire industry forward so we can give customers more of what they want and roll out new messaging capabilities that work the same across providers and even across countries.”

“At Verizon, our customers depend on reliable text messaging to easily connect them to the people they care about most. Yet, we can deliver even more working together as an industry,” said Ronan Dunne, CEO of Verizon Consumer Group. “CCMI will create the foundation for an innovative digital platform that not only connects consumers with friends and family, but also offers a seamless experience for consumers to connect with businesses in a compelling and trusted environment.”

More details will be announced at a later date.

About AT&T Communications

We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we innovate to improve lives. We have the nation’s fastest wireless network.* And according to America’s biggest test, we have the nation’s best wireless network.** We’re building FirstNet just for first responders and creating next-generation mobile 5G. With DIRECTV, DIRECTV NOW and WatchTV, we deliver entertainment people love to talk about. Our smart, highly secure solutions serve nearly 3 million global businesses – nearly all of the Fortune 1000. And worldwide, our spirit of service drives employees to give back to their communities. AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. ). 

About Sprint:

Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served 54.3 million connections as of June 30, 2019 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Today, Sprint’s legacy of innovation and service continues with an increased investment to dramatically improve coverage, reliability, and speed across its nationwide network and commitment to launching a 5G mobile network in the U.S. You

About T-Mobile US, Inc.

As America’s Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. Our advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to 83.1 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.

About Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications Inc. , headquartered in New York City, generated revenues of $130.9 billion in 2018. The company operates America’s most reliable wireless network and the nation’s premier all-fiber network, and delivers integrated solutions to businesses worldwide. With brands like Yahoo, TechCrunch and HuffPost, the company’s media group helps consumers stay informed and entertained, communicate and transact, while creating new ways for advertisers and partners to connect. Verizon’s corporate responsibility prioritizes the environmental, social and governance issues most relevant to its business and impact to society.

By extending customer support capabilities to WhatsApp, businesses that use Zendesk can now reach WhatsApp’s 1.5 billion users to provide faster, more proactive support. Customers can opt-in to receive updates and notifications such as purchase receipts, shipping changes or flight times directly in WhatsApp.

“Customers want to communicate with businesses as easily and seamlessly as they do with their friends and family,” said Mikkel Svane, Zendesk CEO and founder. “WhatsApp has quickly become the messaging app of choice, particularly in Asia Pacific and Latin America. With this new integration, we’re helping businesses stay connected with their customers globally.”

Businesses want a single, integrated place to manage all the interactions happening across different channels such as chat, phone, email, and messaging apps like WhatsApp. Zendesk now has the capability to help businesses around the globe put their customers first by better managing inquiries using the WhatsApp integration.

1mg, India’s leading consumer health platform, provides omnichannel support with Zendesk, and has seen success with their early access WhatsApp integration.

“WhatsApp is one of the most popular communication channels in India. With the integration, we can easily manage customer conversations in one place directly with Zendesk, just like we do with every other channel,” said Jehan Jit Singh, customer experience lead at 1mg. “With Zendesk and WhatsApp, we are now able to offer a faster and more convenient mode of communication. We handle over 20 percent of our order status inquiries daily with WhatsApp and Zendesk, which is much faster than traditional methods.”

Learn more about Zendesk as a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider and apply for WhatsApp’s limited access here: www.zendesk.com/whatsapp

About Zendesk
The best customer experiences are built with Zendesk. Zendesk’s powerful and flexible customer service and engagement platform scales to meet the needs of any business, from startups and small businesses to growth companies and enterprises. Zendesk serves businesses across a multitude of industries, with more than 125,000 paid customer accounts offering service and support in more than 30 languages. Headquartered in San Francisco, Zendesk operates worldwide with 15 offices in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. Learn more at www.zendesk.com.

Updating the terms and conditions should not come as a surprise, the move reflects the fact a lot has changed for the brand in the last few years, though it does open the door to more commercially driven services on the app. WhatsApp will now be able to share user data with Facebook in an effort to improve the accuracy and relevance of advertising. The team are describing the move as an effort to enhance customer experience, though it would seem the definition of improved experience varies depending on who you work for.

“As we announced earlier this year, we want to explore ways for you to communicate with businesses that matter to you too, while still giving you an experience without third-party banner ads and spam,” blogged WhatsApp. So far the examples being given include banks and airlines getting in touch with customers through the app. It would appear the definition of customer experience in WhatsApp is advertising solutions.

Back in 2009, WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum wrote on the company blog “We have not, we do not and we will not ever sell your personal information to anyone. Period. End of story. Hopefully this clears things up,” and following the $19 billion sale to Facebook in 2014 he commented “Here’s what will change for you, our users: nothing… You can continue to use WhatsApp no matter where in the world you are, or what smartphone you’re using. And you can still count on absolutely no ads interrupting your communication”. Job done.

The majority of what has been said in previous years does remain true however. WhatsApp will not sell phone numbers directly to advertisers, though the data will be used to hone advertiser’s efforts. WhatsApp hasn’t done anything wrong in that context, though it does open the door for a more commercially orientated app in the future. A potential worry for WhatsApp is the app is heading in a similar direction to other commercially driven messaging services; the ones users flocked to WhatsApp in an effort to avoid.

The acquisition has not been all bad news, the small fee which was once charged to users is no longer, however the team are flirting with contradictions. In a previous life, Koum was very forward in his commitment to maintaining the status quo, though it would appear the world of Facebook has altered the perception of WhatsApp.

To purchase the bundles, subscribers dial *480# or SMS the letter ‘W’ to 33480. The bundles are available for both pre-paid and post paid subscribers.

There are three WhatsApp Bundles that can be purchased. The daily bundle, which costs 29 cents, gives subscribers access to WhatsApp for 24 hours.

The weekly bundle, which is valid for seven days, costs 89 cents. In addition to access to WhatsApp for a week, it gives the subscriber 5MB of bonus data for the first 1 000 subscribers who sign up for this bundle.

The monthly bundle, which costs $2.85 and is valid for 30 days, comes with 20 MB of bonus data for the first 500 subscribers who sign up.

“The WhatsApp bundles allow unlimited messaging. Subscribers can chat, send videos and share voice notes without having to worry about running out of data. Even if the ordinary data has been used up, it will still be possible to use WhatsApp”, said Telecel marketing Director Octivius Kahiya.