Satellite smartphones to hit 46% of global shipments by 2030: Counterpoint
Synopsis
Nearly one in two smartphones sold globally by 2030 will support satellite connectivity, according to Counterpoint Research. With Apple leading NTN shipments, Amazon acquiring Globalstar for scale, and 3GPP standardisation still maturing, the race to make satellite connectivity a mainstream feature is accelerating — but the killer use case that drives mass adoption is still missing.
Key Takeaways
46 per cent of global smartphone shipments are projected to be NTN-capable by 2030 , per Counterpoint Research .
Apple leads in NTN-capable smartphone shipments; Samsung leads within the Android ecosystem.
Proprietary NTN solutions will dominate in the near term; 3GPP NTN faces hurdles around chipset readiness and operator certification.
Mass adoption in the mid-price segment is expected only with 3GPP Release 19 .
Amazon's acquisition of Globalstar opens a new connectivity-as-a-service revenue stream and adds immediate scale.
North America is the early regional leader; Europe and China are yet to accelerate satellite smartphone rollouts.
Satellite connectivity in smartphones is set for a major leap, with non-terrestrial network (NTN)-capable devices projected to account for 46 per cent of global smartphone shipments by 2030, according to a new report by Counterpoint Research released on Wednesday, 29 April 2025. The findings suggest that nearly one in two smartphones worldwide will support satellite connectivity within the next five years.
Key Projections and Market Leaders
Research Vice President Peter Richardson noted that Apple, Google, and Samsung will lead in terms of overall NTN penetration. However, Android brands targeting entry and mid-price segments are expected to see comparatively lower penetration rates. Richardson added that satellite offerings from a broader range of Android players and telecom operators — particularly beyond developed markets — will play a critical role in accelerating global adoption.
Principal Analyst Soumen Mandal stated that Apple remains the leading smartphone OEM in terms of NTN-capable shipments, while Samsung leads within the Android ecosystem. Huawei and Google, similar to Apple, follow a proprietary NTN approach rather than the standardised 3GPP framework.
Proprietary vs Standardised Solutions
The report forecasts that proprietary solutions will drive the satellite smartphone market in the near term, as 3GPP NTN faces significant hurdles around chipset readiness, operator certification, and service maturity. The 3GPP standard is expected to help expand mass adoption across brands in the premium segment, but mass adoption in the mid-price segment is projected only with the arrival of Release 19.
Notably, the satellite smartphone market remains predominantly driven by the premium segment, with the report flagging that a lack of compelling, everyday use cases is currently limiting broader mass adoption.
Amazon-Globalstar Deal and Competitive Landscape
The recent acquisition of Globalstar by Amazon is highlighted as a significant development, providing immediate scale and opening a new revenue stream for Amazon around connectivity-as-a-service. Senior Analyst Shivani Parashar noted that higher participation from chipset players will intensify competition and improve scalability in the satellite smartphone system-on-chip (SoC) market.
Regional Dynamics
North America has emerged as an early leader in satellite smartphone connectivity, driven largely by partnerships between North American telecom operators and satellite providers. In contrast, telecom operators in Europe and China are not yet rushing to roll out satellite connectivity services. However, satellite operators in those regions are reportedly increasing capacity to cater to the mass market as demand builds.
What Comes Next
The trajectory of satellite smartphone adoption will hinge on chipset ecosystem maturity, operator readiness, and the emergence of mainstream use cases that justify the premium. With Amazon now a major infrastructure player and 3GPP standardisation on the horizon, the next two to three years are likely to be decisive for the market's shape by 2030.
Point of View
But the fine print matters: the bulk of that share will be premium-tier devices from Apple, Samsung, and Google, not the mass-market Android handsets that define global volume. The real inflection point — 3GPP Release 19 bringing standardised satellite support to mid-price phones — is still years away, and operator readiness outside North America remains patchy. Amazon's Globalstar acquisition is the most consequential near-term development, potentially reshaping satellite connectivity from a niche safety feature into a bundled service play. Until a genuine everyday use case emerges beyond emergency SOS, the headline number risks overstating how transformative this shift will feel for the average smartphone user.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of smartphones will have satellite connectivity by 2030?
According to Counterpoint Research, NTN-capable smartphones are projected to account for 46 per cent of global smartphone shipments by 2030, meaning nearly one in two devices will support satellite connectivity.
Which smartphone brands lead in satellite connectivity?
Apple is the leading OEM in NTN-capable smartphone shipments globally, while Samsung leads within the Android ecosystem. Huawei and Google also follow a proprietary NTN approach similar to Apple.
What is 3GPP NTN and why does it matter?
3GPP NTN is a standardised framework for integrating satellite connectivity into smartphones across multiple brands and chipsets. It is expected to drive mass adoption in the premium segment, but mid-price segment adoption is only projected with 3GPP Release 19, which is still forthcoming.
How does Amazon's acquisition of Globalstar affect the satellite smartphone market?
Amazon's acquisition of Globalstar provides immediate infrastructure scale and creates a new connectivity-as-a-service revenue stream, potentially accelerating satellite smartphone adoption beyond current niche emergency-use scenarios.
Which regions are leading in satellite smartphone adoption?
North America is currently the early leader, driven by partnerships between North American telecom operators and satellite providers. Europe and China have not yet moved aggressively into satellite smartphone services, though satellite operators in those regions are reportedly building capacity.
