Samsung Electronics has secured standardized 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) modem technology for direct communication between smartphones and satellites, especially in remote areas.

The world leader in advanced semiconductor technology says it intends to integrate the technology into its Exynos modem solutions to fast track commercialization of 5G satellite communications paving the way for the era of the 6G-driven Internet of Everything (IoE).

“This milestone builds on our rich legacy in wireless communications technologies, following the introduction of the industry’s first commercial 4G LTE modem in 2009 and the industry’s first 5G modem in 2018,” said Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President of Communication Processor Development Min Goo Kim.

He added, “Samsung aims to take the lead in advancing hybrid terrestrial-NTN communications ecosystems around the world in preparation for the arrival of 6G.”

NTN is a communications technology that uses satellites and other non-terrestrial vehicles to bring connectivity to areas that could not be reached by terrestrial networks before, whether over mountains, across deserts or in the middle of the ocean.

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The tech is expected to play a critical role in assuring operability in disaster areas and powering future urban air mobility (UAM) such as unmanned aircraft and flying cars.

Samsung’s NTN technology, by meeting latest 5G NTN standards required by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP Release 17), will see interoperability and scalability among services offered by global telecom carriers, mobile device makers and chip firms.


For highly reliable NTN communication with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, Samsung has developed and simulated 5G NTN standard-based satellite technology using its Exynos Modem 5300 reference platform to accurately predict satellite locations and minimize frequency offsets caused by the Doppler shift.

Based on this technology, Samsung Electronics’ future Exynos modems will be able to support two-way text messaging as well as high-definition image and video sharing.

Samsung further plans to secure a standardized NB-IoT NTN technology to use in its next-generation modem platforms.

With integrated satellite connectivity, Samsung’s NB-IoT solutions will remove the need for a separate high-power wireless antenna chip inside smartphones, providing mobile device makers with much greater design flexibility.