Starlink Warnings: MediaTek Launches Satellite Connectivity
Chip manufacturer MediaTek and Starlink are collaborating to enable warnings via direct satellite connection.
MediaTek at MWC 2026
(Image: Steffen Herget / heise medien)
At the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, chip manufacturer MediaTek is presenting a new cooperation with Starlink. This is intended to enable smartphones to receive warning messages directly via Starlink satellites in emergencies.
MediaTek establishes the connection to the Starlink satellites with the M90 modem, which also operates via 5G mobile communications. The modem receives messages from various warning systems via the S-band: Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS), the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) framework, and the Earthquake and Tsunami Warning System (ETWS) are supported. WEA is already active in the United States, Canada, and Japan. According to MediaTek, 4.4 million people have already received relevant messages via Starlink in emergencies.
"This allows us to leverage our leadership in satellite technology and combine it with Starlink's satellite network to ensure that more people have access to life-saving alerts in critical situations," said JC Hsu, Corporate Senior Vice President at MediaTek and General Manager of the Wireless Communications Business Unit. "Our solution fundamentally addresses the gaps in mobile coverage that often occur during natural disasters and other emergencies, and is a significant step towards the commercial deployment of standardized NR-NTN technology."
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MediaTek's First Satellite Modem
Smartphones have only been able to communicate directly with satellites for a few years. The first commercially available solution comes from a cooperation between the Bullitt Group, which has since disappeared from the market, and MediaTek. The MediaTek MT6825 modem was first installed in the Cat S75 outdoor smartphone. Additionally, there was the Motorola Defy Satellite Link, a small dongle that can be paired with almost any smartphone via Bluetooth. However, Bullitt's satellite messenger was not only intended for emergencies but also for normal message exchange. Other manufacturers have also incorporated satellite connections for emergencies, such as Apple with the iPhone 14.
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