MediaTek announces its 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) technology at the MWC 2023. The tech will bring two-way satellite communications to Android smartphones.
With satellite-enabled smartphones, consumers can stay in touch when they are hiking, driving in secluded areas, on a boat, or in other situations where there has traditionally been no connectivity; this will not only provide users with peace of mind but also enable them to request assistance in emergency situations.
MediaTek is partnering with Bullitt to bring the world’s first commercially available devices with 3GPP NTN technology, using the MT6825 chipset to connect to the Bullitt Satellite Connect platform. This includes the Motorola defy 2 and CAT S75 smartphones; and the Motorola defy satellite link, a compact and lightweight Bluetooth accessory that allows Android and iOS devices to connect to Bullitt’s platform. The service will provide users with access to two-way satellite messaging, location sharing, and emergency SOS in more places around the world.
To make it easy for brands to integrate two-way satellite communications into smartphones and other devices, MediaTek’s IoT-NTN solutions are standalone chipsets that can be added to any 4G or 5G device. The chipsets utilize the open 3GPP R17 NTN standard that is unlike competing solutions which are based on proprietary solutions.
For OEMs, the advantage of the standard is that once a device has been certified for 3GPP R17 IoT-NTN, it can be used on any IoT-NTN-compliant network. Additionally, mobile network operators can partner with service providers to offer roaming services or establish their own satellite networks that support the standard.
In addition to the benefits of supporting 3GPP R17 NTN, MediaTek’s MT6825 IoT-NTN chipset has a number of other features. MT6825 can connect to Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) constellations, which could be converted into 3GPP NTN-compliant network easily and are widely available now in the orbit.
To provide a seamless experience, MT6825 allows devices to automatically receive messages from satellites, unlike competitive solutions that require users to manually check for messages. The chipset has low system requirements, is very power efficient to provide greater battery life, and comes in a highly integrated design that helps accelerate time to market.
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The first smartphones with MediaTek’s satellite connectivity are also launching, with more devices to be unveiled in the coming months. Additionally, MediaTek will also be sharing a sneak peek of its next-generation 5G New Radio NTN (NR-NTN) technology for the next wave of satellite-enabled devices.
MediaTek is exhibiting at MWC in Barcelona, Spain from February 27 through March 2, 2023. Attendees can see MediaTek’s satellite connectivity demos by visiting MediaTek’s booth in Hall 3, Stand 3D10.
