Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. News

Your Galaxy S26 could make satellite calls, Samsung hints

Samsung’s Exynos Modem 5410 touts LTE DTC for voice calls plus two other satellite modes, suggesting a bigger off-grid safety net.

By
Add as a preferred source on Google
samsung-galaxy-s26-lineup
Imad Clicks / Pexels

Samsung is laying groundwork for a potential jump in Galaxy S26 satellite connectivity, based on how it is describing the Exynos Modem 5410.

The company says the modem supports three different satellite network types, and it ties one of them to voice calling, which points to something more practical than a last resort satellite message.

Recommended Videos

With no official announcements just yet, it is speculated that the new modem will be used in the Galaxy S26 in select countries.

Three satellite modes, different jobs

Samsung says the Exynos Modem 5410 integrates LTE DTC, NB IoT NTN, and NR NTN on a single chip, and it assigns each a different role.

LTE DTC, short for Long Term Evolution Direct to Cell, is the key promise. Samsung describes it as expanding capabilities by enabling voice calls, a clear step up from short emergency style messages.

NB IoT NTN, or NarrowBand Internet of Things Non Terrestrial Networks, is positioned for lighter tasks like location sharing and simple text transmission through satellites, including scenarios far from towers, even across deserts or oceans. Samsung says this portion is certified by Skylo.

NR NTN, short for New Radio Non Terrestrial Networks, is framed as the higher quality lane, with Samsung pointing to use cases like video calls.

This goes beyond emergency texting

If these capabilities land in the Galaxy S26 family, Galaxy S26 satellite connectivity starts to look like a layered fallback. Simple texts and location sharing sit at one end, voice calling becomes the big middle step, and higher quality communication sits at the top.

Samsung is also pitching this as a premium modem, not a niche add on. It says the chip is based on the 3GPP Release 17 standard, supports 5G NR dual connectivity across FR1 sub 6GHz and FR2 mmWave, and lists peak download throughput up to 14.79Gbps.

Efficiency and security get a nod, too. Samsung says the modem uses a 4nm EUV process for lower standby power consumption, and it highlights root of trust based hybrid PQC plus a security processor meant to protect sensitive Secure NV data such as IMEI.

What to watch before you count on it

The deciding details are still missing: which Galaxy models use the modem, whether satellite voice calling is enabled on day one, and where it is supported. Until Samsung spells that out, treat the Exynos Modem 5410 as capability, not confirmation.

If you care about off grid coverage, wait for a Galaxy S26 spec sheet that explicitly lists satellite calling, supported satellite modes, and regional availability.

Paulo Vargas
Paulo Vargas
News Writer
Paulo Vargas is an English major turned reporter turned technical writer, with a career that has always circled back to…
Topics
Apple’s new Upgrade program launches on Tuesday with major changes
Apple's new leasing program might drop AppleCare coverage from the bundle.
iPhone 17 Pro Max

Buying your next Apple device could soon look like leasing a car. Apple is launching its new Apple Upgrade program on Tuesday, July 28, replacing new enrollments in the long-running iPhone Upgrade Program with a lease-based option that covers iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches.

Backed by Klarna, the program is designed to lower the upfront cost of Apple's premium devices, but it is also raising questions about whether you'll actually own what you're paying for.

Read more
Setting up your dorm desk? These are the phone stands I’d actually spend my money on
From a $2 folding stand to a three-in-one Apple charging dock, these are the phone stands worth setting up this semester.
Analog Clock, Clock, Electronics

A phone stand is one of the smallest purchases on any back-to-school list, but it's also one of the easiest to get wrong, especially since there are dozens of options available on Amazon. A good phone stand is one that does its job well and, more importantly, doesn't put much of a dent in your budget.

This is one of those product categories where you don’t need to spend big, unless a MagSafe dock or a multi-device charging stand is genuinely useful for your desk or dorm setup. That is why this list begins with the most affordable options and works its way up to the more expensive ones. From a two-pack that costs about as much as a coffee to a three-in-one Apple charging station, I picked eight of Amazon's best-reviewed phone stands worth considering this back-to-school season.

Read more
I picked four wireless chargers so you can stop making your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch fight over one dorm outlet
The best back-to-school wireless chargers for dorm desks, study spaces, and travel
Computer, Electronics, Laptop

A dorm-room desk can disappear surprisingly quickly beneath a laptop charger, phone cable, Apple Watch puck, and the growing collection of adapters required to power them all. Add textbooks and other academic materials, and finding enough room to study becomes the first assignment of the semester.

A wireless charging stand can consolidate several of those cables into one station. It also gives your phone a dedicated place to sit, which helps when you are checking the time or watching a lecture. Every charger here still needs one connection to the wall. So finding a peripheral that works with all of your gadgets isn't just convenient, it's smart. I picked four models ranging from an inexpensive two-device stand to a fast 25W wireless charger capable of powering an entire Apple setup.

Read more