Samsung Electronics, the world's largest memory chipmaker, is developing an artificial intelligence modem chip for satellite communications, targeting SpaceX's Starlink network as part of its next-generation, non-terrestrial 6G strategy, according to South Korean media reports.

Sources familiar with the matter revealed Thursday that a senior executive from Samsung's semiconductor division recently met with SpaceX executives to share technical details and development progress on the chip. The chip is designed to bypass traditional ground base stations and enable direct connections between low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and consumer devices.

Industry analysts say this technology could disrupt traditional telecommunications architecture and support a market expected to reach 740 trillion won (US$530 billion) by 2040.

Internal presentation materials obtained by the Korea Economic Daily show that Samsung's System LSI division is developing a new Exynos modem with an integrated AI accelerator, known as a neural processing unit (NPU). Sources say existing chipsets have limited capabilities for tracking fast-moving satellites and maintaining beam alignment, but this AI-enhanced modem is designed to predict satellite trajectories and optimize signal links in real time.

Benchmark test data shared in the presentation showed that the new Exynos modem's beam identification and channel prediction capabilities improved by 55 times and 42 times, respectively, compared to existing models.

Sources say the chip is targeted at SpaceX.

"Samsung is in talks to join the component supply chain for SpaceX's non-terrestrial 6G network, which aims to connect the world via its Starlink satellites," a person familiar with the matter said.

The 6G non-terrestrial network (NTN) is seen as critical infrastructure for self-driving cars and humanoid robots, which require ultra-low latency and uninterrupted connectivity.

To support the system, SpaceX last month spent approximately $17 billion to acquire 50 MHz of wireless spectrum and global Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) frequencies.

Analysts say Samsung's growing collaboration with Elon Musk's company highlights its ambitions to expand beyond smartphones and memory chips.

The partnership recently expanded to Tesla's internal artificial intelligence semiconductor project.

SpaceX deploys Starlink cellular service

Bloomberg News previously reported that SpaceX is working with microchip manufacturers to embed devices in mobile phones to support its emerging Starlink satellite-to-phone service. This is a key step following Elon Musk's SpaceX's $17 billion acquisition of wireless spectrum from EchoStar Corp.

"We are working with chip manufacturers to get the right chips into phones," SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said at a space conference in Paris on Tuesday.

Musk's space transportation company's Starlink internet service has signed up millions of users in more than 100 countries. Most users access the system using small antennas, but SpaceX is also exploring a burgeoning market known as "direct-to-device," which delivers mobile service from space to ordinary phones.

Satellite operators like SpaceX pursuing this type of technology typically need to partner with at least one company holding a terrestrial mobile license. SpaceX currently has a partnership with T-Mobile US Inc., but the acquisition of the EchoStar spectrum agreement will allow SpaceX to offer its own service more independently.

"We're now going to negotiate with telecom operators in a different way," Shotwell said. "The spectrum is ours now, but we want to work with them to almost provide capacity and wholesale capacity to their customers."

Shotwell said SpaceX plans to launch new satellites over the next two years to support its direct-to-device business and conduct mobile phone testing later next year.

Shotwell also discussed the recent launch of SpaceX's Starship rocket, which carried out its 10th test mission in August. Shotwell said the flight met all its objectives and was a key milestone for the Starship program after a difficult year.

"My Starship team needed this win," Shotwell said. "Development projects always require 24/7 operation, and I'm very happy for them."

Shotwell reiterated that SpaceX plans to test-fly the final version of the current Starship prototype, known as V2, this year. After that, the company will focus on the next-generation prototype, V3, which is expected to be even more powerful than the previous generation.

"We're hoping to fly V3 later this year, but probably early next year, and it will truly be a rocket that can take humans to the moon and Mars," Shotwell said.

Samsung is important in Musk's chip plan

As a tech enthusiast, Elon Musk has plans for both cars and brain-computer interface chips. In recent remarks, he has directly acknowledged that Samsung plays a significant role in his plans.

Musk told investors on a conference call that Samsung will share manufacturing responsibilities for the company's AI5 artificial intelligence chip under development. Previously, he had stated that the chip would be produced by TSMC, the world's largest custom semiconductor supplier.

"I need to clarify some of my previous public comments that we will actually focus on AI5 initially with TSMC and Samsung," Musk said during Tesla's third-quarter conference call.

Musk stated in the conference call and on a forum post that the AI5's design differs from traditional graphics processing units (GPUs) by omitting image signal processing to save space and maximize efficiency.

Tesla relies on AI chips to power its self-driving car features and its nascent robotics product line. The company uses this technology alongside hardware from Nvidia, a leading manufacturer of AI computing processors.

In July, Musk said Tesla would collaborate with Samsung to produce its next-generation AI6 chip, confirming a Bloomberg report. The two companies signed a $16.5 billion agreement, which was seen as a major victory for Samsung's foundry division, which manufactures chips for external clients.

At the time, Musk said Samsung was already producing the previous generation of AI4 chips, while Tesla would rely on TSMC for the version currently under development.

Samsung still lags far behind TSMC in the foundry sector, but it is increasing investment in its production center near Tesla's headquarters in Austin.

Source: Semiconductor Industry Observer

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