Satellite connectivity in smartphones is set to expand notably, with non-terrestrial networks (NTN)-capable devices projected to make up 46% of global smartphone shipments by 2030, as per a report by Counterpoint Research. The report anticipates that nearly half of smartphones will support satellite connectivity by 2030. Leading the charge in overall penetration are Apple, Google, and Samsung, with Android brands focusing on the entry and mid-price segments expected to see lower penetration rates.
Research Vice President Peter Richardson highlighted that the market will be driven by Apple, Google, and Samsung, but Android brands targeting the lower price segments may face challenges in penetration. The report also suggests that the satellite smartphone market is currently dominated by the premium segment, with mass adoption hindered by the absence of compelling use cases.
The report predicts that proprietary solutions will dominate the market in the short term due to challenges faced by 3GPP NTN, such as chipset readiness, operator certification, and service maturity. Principal Analyst Soumen Mandal noted that Apple leads in NTN-capable smartphone shipments, while Samsung is at the forefront in the Android ecosystem. Huawei and Google are following a similar proprietary approach.
Regarding the competitive landscape of the satellite smartphone SoC market, Senior Analyst Shivani Parashar mentioned that increased participation from chipset players will enhance competition and scalability. The acquisition of Globalstar by Amazon is expected to provide Amazon with a new revenue stream through connectivity-as-a-service. North America is leading the way in satellite connectivity for smartphones, thanks to partnerships with telecom players. While telecom operators in Europe and China are not rushing to offer satellite connectivity, satellite operators are expanding capacity to meet growing demand.
