Satellite Connectivity Coming to Android Smartphones: Globalstar Struck a Deal with Skylo
Credit: NASA
Satellite connectivity could become more accessible to Android users as Globalstar, the satellite operator behind Apple’s satellite communication features, reaches a deal with Skylo, a company bringing satellite messaging to compatible smartphones. The agreement could help expand direct-to-device services beyond traditional cellular coverage.
Globalstar and Skylo Move Satellite Messaging Forward
Globalstar has confirmed its support for Skylo’s satellite connectivity plans in a filing with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), according to a report published by PCMag on October 19, 2026.
The development follows Skylo’s earlier request to expand the number of devices it can support through satellite services. Its regulatory application covered up to 250 million devices for emergency communications, safety services, and short-message data transmission.
Although the announcement does not mean that satellite connectivity will immediately become available on every Android smartphone, it signals growing cooperation between companies working to bring satellite communication to everyday mobile devices.
How Will Satellite Connectivity Work on Android?
Skylo specializes in non-terrestrial network (NTN) technology, which allows compatible cellular devices to communicate through satellites when conventional mobile networks are unavailable.
Unlike traditional satellite phones, this approach is designed to work with supported smartphones without requiring a separate satellite handset or an external antenna. Depending on the device, network configuration, and service availability, users may be able to send emergency messages or short texts from areas with little or no cellular coverage.
Skylo already works with smartphone manufacturers and technology partners, including Google and Samsung. Google’s Pixel 9 series introduced Satellite SOS in 2024, demonstrating how satellite communication can be integrated into a mainstream Android smartphone.
The company’s technology is based on established mobile communications standards for non-terrestrial networks, potentially making it easier to expand satellite services across different devices and markets.
What Does This Mean for Android Users?
The potential benefits are particularly relevant for people who travel through remote areas, go hiking, work in rural locations, or find themselves in emergencies outside cellular coverage.
Satellite messaging could provide an additional way to contact emergency services or exchange essential information when conventional mobile connectivity fails. However, the exact features available will depend on supported hardware, software, regulatory approvals, and service arrangements.
It is also important to distinguish satellite messaging from full satellite internet. Initial direct-to-device services generally focus on emergency communications and short messages rather than high-speed browsing, video streaming, or unrestricted mobile data.
For Android users, the Globalstar–Skylo development is therefore more significant as a potential expansion of basic connectivity than as an immediate replacement for conventional mobile networks.
A Growing Market for Satellite-to-Phone Services
The partnership comes as satellite operators and technology companies compete to connect smartphones beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. Apple has already established satellite-based emergency communication on supported iPhones, while Android manufacturers and network providers are developing their own approaches.
Globalstar’s involvement could help Skylo expand its capabilities, but important details—including supported devices, launch dates, geographic availability, and commercial pricing—remain to be confirmed.
For now, the agreement represents another step toward a future in which losing cellular coverage may no longer mean losing every way to communicate. The next major milestone will be seeing how quickly these capabilities reach more Android devices and become available to users in additional countries.
