Samsung just made satellite connectivity a standard Galaxy feature. The company announced it's bringing emergency messaging and satellite communication to Galaxy smartphones globally through partnerships with major carriers including T-Mobile, Verizon, Virgin Media O2, and KDDI. The rollout, which started with the Galaxy S26 series, positions Samsung to compete directly with Apple's satellite SOS features while making always-on connectivity a reality for millions of users stuck without cell coverage.
Samsung is betting that satellite connectivity will become as essential as 5G. The company's announcement reveals an aggressive multi-region strategy to bring emergency communications and satellite messaging to Galaxy devices through a web of carrier partnerships that spans three continents.
The timing matters. As AI features demand constant connectivity, Samsung's positioning this as infrastructure, not a gimmick. "As satellite connectivity becomes an important part of the mobile landscape, we are committed to ensuring Galaxy users have reliable access to communication, especially when they need it most," Won-Joon Choi, Samsung's COO and Head of R&D for Mobile Experience, said in the announcement.
The US market shows how fragmented this rollout really is. T-Mobile users with Galaxy S21 and newer devices already get T911 emergency services plus text and data through the carrier's Starlink partnership that launched in 2025. Verizon came later but covers all Galaxy S25 series phones with eSOS and texting. AT&T is still in the works, with Samsung promising support is coming.
Europe's getting similar treatment but with different timelines. Virgin Media O2 in the UK is bringing satellite features to select Galaxy phones now. Spain's MasOrange will kick off joint trials in March. Vodafone is also in discussions to support the technology, though Samsung hasn't specified which markets or devices yet.
