vivo revealed its first satellite communication phone prototype at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2023 on June 28, 2023.
The prototype, which is based on the vivo X90 Pro+ with some modifications, can support 3GPP R17 non-terrestrial network (NTN) two-way satellite communications using a radio frequency (RF) baseband integrated solution and an internal antenna. It can also work with both the Inmarsat and Tiantong-1 satellite systems, which operate in the L-band and S-band frequencies respectively.
The satellite communication phone is expected to provide reliable and convenient connectivity for users in areas where terrestrial cellular networks are unavailable or unreliable, such as wilderness, ocean, forest, and remote mountain regions. This could benefit Filipinos who live in or travel to such areas, especially in Mindanao where network coverage is still limited.
According to vivo, the prototype is powered by the V8821, the world’s first satellite communication system-on-a-chip (SoC). The V8821 will be mass-produced soon and can be extended to support other high-orbiting satellite systems in the future. The V8821 also allows customers to reuse hardware resources in existing solutions, which can improve deployment efficiency and reduce cost and time consumption.
vivo showcased its latest innovations and products at the MWC Shanghai 2023, which ran from June 28 to June 30 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The event was a platform for businesses and innovators to exchange ideas and insights on the development and future of connectivity.
For more updates, follow vivo’s official channels on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok.
