Apple continues to dominate the global market for smartphones equipped with satellite capabilities, with forecasts suggesting these devices will account for 46% of all smartphone shipments by 2030. Apple spearheaded the satellite phone trend by partnering with Globalstar to introduce Emergency SOS via satellite on the iPhone 14 in 2022, maintaining its lead since then. In the Android ecosystem, Samsung is at the forefront, while Huawei and Google have adopted their own unique approaches. Other Android manufacturers like Xiaomi, OPPO, HONOR, and vivo are following the 3GPP non-terrestrial network standard to enhance scalability and interoperability.
The sector is currently skewed towards premium devices, with the absence of everyday use cases limiting wider adoption. The 3GPP Release 17 supports only SOS messaging and basic location sharing, while Release 18 is expected to further boost adoption among premium brands. However, mass-market penetration in the mid-price segment is not expected until Release 19.
Qualcomm is leading among Android vendors with its Snapdragon X80 and X85 modems, while MediaTek, Samsung, Google, and Huawei are intensifying competition. North America is at the forefront of adoption, driven by carrier partnerships such as T-Mobile with SpaceX, AT&T with AST Mobile, and Rogers with SpaceX, alongside Apple’s collaboration with Globalstar. Amazon’s acquisition of Globalstar is seen as a significant development, potentially paving the way for new connectivity-as-a-service revenue streams.
Looking ahead to 2030, Apple, Google, and Samsung are expected to lead in overall market penetration, whereas Android brands targeting entry-level and mid-range segments may experience slower growth. Apple has recently secured a new satellite deal with Amazon following its acquisition of Globalstar, and is developing various new satellite features, including Maps via satellite, photos in Messages via satellite, and a satellite API for third-party apps.
