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Samsung’s next flagship trio—the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra—has cleared the FCC with a surprise: built-in satellite communication. That could let you send messages and make calls even when you’re completely off the cellular grid.
Satellite backup when networks disappear
Recent FCC filings for the US models (FCC ID A3LSMS942U, A3LSMS947U, A3LSMS948U) reveal support for Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) standards. In short, these phones are equipped to fall back to satellite links for basic messaging and emergency voice when no terrestrial network is available.
What’s inside: chips, radios and new wireless tech
The documents list the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (for Galaxy) as the platform and confirm compatibility across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G NR (including mmWave and sub-6GHz). Samsung also appears to be pushing modern wireless standards: the S26 series is flagged for Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be), Bluetooth LE, NFC, Ultra Wideband (UWB) and wireless charging (WPT).
How satellite service will likely work
Reports indicate Samsung may enable satellite calling and messaging via Skylo, an NTN provider that connects standard smartphones to satellites using flexible terrestrial spectrum under FCC SCS rules. Expect this to be a low-bandwidth lifeline—great for texts, location pings and basic voice in emergencies, but not a replacement for full mobile broadband.
Availability and regional limits
Keep in mind the feature may be region- or carrier-limited. The FCC entries cover US variants and include both carrier-locked and factory-unlocked hardware, which suggests the phones are capable worldwide even if satellite services roll out selectively by market or operator.
- FCC IDs: A3LSMS942U (Galaxy S26), A3LSMS947U (Galaxy S26+), A3LSMS948U (Galaxy S26 Ultra)
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (for Galaxy)
- Networks: GSM, WCDMA, LTE, 5G NR (mmWave & sub-6GHz)
- Connectivity: Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth LE, NFC, UWB, wireless charging
- Satellite support: SCS and NTN standards; likely Skylo integration
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 series in the last week of February 2026, with pre-orders opening in select markets the same day and general availability around the second week of March 2026. Imagine texting home from a mountaintop or sending an SOS when cell towers aren’t an option—this could be the safety net many users have been waiting for.
Source: sammobile
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