Currently, satcom through mobile devices is primarily used for coverage in emergency situations and is limited to messages. But in a couple of years, people will be able to get calls and broadband, too. Leading chipmakers Qualcomm and MediaTek said they have already developed chipsets supporting satellite connectivity.
“Right now, it’s catering to the niche market, but we expect that eventually it will cater to the mainstream consumers and businesses,” MediaTek India managing director Anku Jain told ET.
MediaTek has adhered to the 3GPP standards for designing satcom chipsets so that there is interoperability in the long run, he said. “For the technology to become mainstream, more and more OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) need to adopt it and we will see how that happens. But from MediaTek point of view, we are ready with the solution,” Jain added.
Currently, there are 5-6 devices available in the market globally, including the iPhone 14 and 15 models, that support satellite connectivity. Going forward, more OEMs are expected to incorporate the technology.
“The technology is already there, and we have the chips to support direct-to-device satcom services,” Qualcomm India president Savi Soin told ET.
Asked about the opportunity in India, Soin said while the technology is available, standards are the key. “The question is who will provide the (satellite) constellation and is that constellation compliant with India,” he said.
If the majority of satellite operators and OEM makers adopt global open standards, there would be better interoperability. But if players adopt proprietydriven standards, it would be difficult to predict how the market would shape up, experts said.
Currently, satellite constellation providers like Elon Muskowned Starlink, Amazon, etc., are pushing for their standards and it all depends on how the market evolves as satellite constellations deployment by the players become complete.
