Samsung is reportedly developing a special AI-enabled modem for Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service. This could change how our devices connect to satellites, marking a big step forward in communication. Reports from the Korean Economic Daily say this team-up aims to eliminate the need for regular cell towers. This means phones, small-business routers, and other gadgets could talk directly to satellites.
This fits with SpaceX’s recent move into 6G networks that don’t rely on ground stations, especially after they reportedly spent $17 billion on airwaves. A key part of the new modem is a special AI chip. It will “guess where satellites are going and make signal connections better in real time.” This solves an old problem: today’s modems struggle to maintain strong, fast connections with fast-moving satellites orbiting close to Earth.
Samsung has shown that its new Exynos modem can find satellite beams 55 times more accurately and predict signal paths 42 times more accurately than older modems. These improvements mean devices can switch between different satellites more smoothly. This is super important for reliable satellite internet and connecting devices directly. If this tech works, it could completely change how modems and routers connect things in far-off places or when people are on the move. Instead of going through complicated ground systems, this AI modem could connect devices directly to Starlink’s growing fleet of satellites.
For regular people, this might mean laptops or phones that stay connected even where cell service has never been available before. For businesses, it could provide fast internet in areas where fiber-optic cables or 5G signals are still unreliable. This also shows Samsung wants to grow its chip business beyond just phones and memory. Experts say Samsung’s work with Tesla on advanced AI chips already hinted at this goal. Now, by teaming up with Starlink, Samsung seems keen to become a big player in future communication technology.
But making AI signals work so well requires significant power and computing resources. Early 6G devices might struggle to be both powerful and energy-efficient. The Starlink-Samsung team-up is a big step towards mixing AI with satellite communication, but we still need to see its full effect. Whether this AI modem becomes a key part of Musk’s 6G satellite plans will depend on how well it balances power use and cost, and how well it works in these new space-linked networks.
