Google has confirmed that it plans to add satellite connectivity in the next version of Android — Android 14.
Now with Apple and Qualcomm, Google is also participating in the race for satellite connectivity for smartphones.
This has been confirmed by Hiroshi Lockheimer, senior vice president of Android, Chrome, Chrome OS and Google Photos. According to Lockheimer, “the Android team is “designing for the satellites” and that they are “excited to support our partners in enabling [satellite connections] in the next version of Android.”
Lockheimer recalled that the new type of communication is different from the 5G and LTE that have become familiar to us. Note that at present, satellite communications support is designed for use in emergency situations and to eliminate “blind spots” in the coverage of cellular networks.
At the end of August, T-Mobile, together with SpaceX, announced the launch of a service for connecting smartphones to satellite internet. As planned, the technology will allow you to be in touch in those points where there is no cellular coverage. At the same time, any smartphone will have support for a cellular connection without any modifications.
And they are planning to launch this feature at the end of 2023, and also Android 14 will most likely be launched towards the end of 2023.
