LAS VEGAS, Jan 18, 2026, 03:27 (PST)
- Infinix says its upcoming Note 60 series will debut two-way satellite voice and messaging with broad geographic coverage
- Samsung is building satellite voice capability into its Exynos Modem 5410 as satellite links spread beyond SOS texts
- Pricing, carrier deals and regulatory approvals will decide how widely the services work in practice
Infinix said on Jan. 16 its upcoming Note 60 smartphones will support two-way satellite voice and messaging, pushing satellite links deeper into the consumer phone market. The company said the system will switch automatically between terrestrial and satellite networks and cover nearly two-thirds of the Earth’s surface. (PR Newswire)
The move signals a shift in 2026 from satellite features as a last-resort safety tool to something closer to everyday backup connectivity. Until recently, Apple and major Android brands largely limited satellite features to short, guided emergency messages. (Gizmochina)
That matters now because phone makers and carriers are trying to close coverage gaps without building towers everywhere. A basic ability to call or text when there is no signal can change how people travel, work in rural areas, or cope when storms and disasters knock out ground networks.
Infinix has pitched its satellite feature as “always-on” in the background rather than a special emergency mode. In a Jan. 6 statement around CES, it said its satellite link supports 4 kbps transmission — enough for voice calls and short messages — and requires no extra registration, while switching between roaming and satellite connections. (PR Newswire)
Samsung, meanwhile, has been building out the hardware to do more than text. Its Exynos Modem 5410 supports three satellite network types, including LTE direct-to-cell — a cellular-style link that can enable voice calls — alongside non-terrestrial network standards for basic texts, location sharing and higher-quality links such as video. (Samsung Semiconductor Global)
Samsung has not said which handsets will ship with the modem or what services will be switched on where. Even when phones have the right chips, satellite functions often hinge on carrier support and local rules on spectrum and emergency services.
There are also competing playbooks. Some services run through a carrier-satellite tie-up, while others are built into the device itself; Skylo, which supplies satellite connectivity to some Android devices, has argued for a hybrid approach. Tarun Gupta, Skylo’s co-founder and chief product officer, said users can “communicate over satellite when out of Wi‑Fi or cellular coverage.” (Fierce Network)
Carriers have been moving in that direction, at least for texting. Verizon said in a 2025 release it would let customers on certain Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 9 phones send texts via satellite when outside cellular coverage, and executive Joe Russo said the push aims to keep customers connected “wherever they are.” (Verizon)
But the downsides are real. Satellite links can drain batteries, need a clear view of the sky, and often come with lag and uneven call quality; weather and terrain can break a connection. Pricing models are still murky, and in many countries regulators and carriers will decide what features get turned on — and when.
For now, Infinix has not disclosed pricing or a launch date for the Note 60 series’ satellite service, and Samsung has not laid out a consumer rollout plan for satellite voice. The next test is simple: whether “no signal” becomes “enough signal” for a call or a text, without turning into another feature that only works on paper.
