Nearly half of smartphones shipped in 2030 could support satellite connectivity

Current satellite features enabled by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) Release 17 are focused on emergency SOS and basic messaging. That is expected to change with new upcoming standards. 3GPP Release 18 is likely to accelerate adoption across premium smartphones from more brands, while Release 19 could play a bigger role in bringing satellite connectivity to mid-range devices.

Apple currently leads the global satellite smartphone market with a 71.6% share, followed by Samsung at 15.9% and Huawei at 6.1%. Apple first introduced satellite connectivity on the iPhone 14 series in 2022 through its partnership with Globalstar. On the Android side, Qualcomm has been a key enabler with its Snapdragon X80 and X85 modems.

Counterpoint Research notes that future growth will depend on how effectively ecosystem partners address several challenges, including design and cost constraints, limited real-world use cases, regulatory hurdles, and the relative immaturity of satellite network infrastructure.

Source: Counterpoint Research