A new report from Counterpoint Research shows that Apple dominated the satellite-enabled smartphone market in 2025 with a 71.6% share, far ahead of Samsung (15.9%) and Huawei (6.1%).
The market is currently split between proprietary systems used by Apple, Huawei, and Google and the broader Android ecosystem adopting 3GPP NTN standards aimed at scaling satellite connectivity as part of cellular networks.
Adoption remains limited due to few use cases beyond emergency messaging, but future 3GPP releases and expansion into mid-range devices are expected to drive growth. Chipmakers like Qualcomm and MediaTek are also pushing satellite support.
Partnerships between telecoms and satellite providers – such as T-Mobile with SpaceX and AT&T with AST Mobile – are accelerating early adoption, especially in North America.
Looking ahead, satellite-enabled smartphones are to reach 46% of global shipments by 2030, with Apple, Google and Samsung leading adoption.
Source: 9to5Mac
