BMW Wants Your Next Car To Make Calls From SpaceBMW Group and Viasat, a global leader in satellite communications, have been working together to bring satellite connectivity directly to the infotainment screen. As part of their latest R&D push, the two companies teamed up to successfully integrate satellite voice and text capabilities into the system of a BMW iX3, and they just showed it off this week at 5GAA Meeting Week in Munich, placing a call right from the car's own screen, no separate satphone needed. It's part of a bigger push toward what's called NTN, or non-terrestrial network connectivity, basically, tech that keeps you connected via satellite once you're out of range of regular cell towers. Beyond calls and texts, the same setup opens the door to satellite-based data too, like sending location pings or basic messages when there's zero signal. Both companies say they're now working toward production, with this kind of feature possibly showing up in real cars as early as 2027.Having satellite phone connectivity in your car could be a huge deal in an emergency. Think about it, you're out on a remote trail, deep in the backcountry, or camped at that obscure, secluded spot with zero bars, and something goes wrong. Being able to make a call or send your location straight from the dashboard, without needing a separate satellite gadget, could genuinely be a lifesaver. It's a real boon for adventure enthusiasts who like to go off-grid and explore places regular cell coverage just doesn't reach.Satellite phone connectivity in cars — where things stand todayRight now, no production cars come with built-in satellite voice calling. Sure, some military-spec or armored vehicles, think S-Class Guard territory, offer satellite phone options, but that's typically bolted on by an aftermarket company. It doesn't come from the automaker itself, and it definitely doesn't integrate with the car's native infotainment system the way BMW and Viasat just demonstrated.AdvertisementAdvertisementBMW has always had a reputation for packing in outlandish, cutting-edge tech, especially in flagship models like the 7 Series. So it wouldn't be shocking to see satellite connectivity trickle down into production models before too long.And BMW isn't alone in this race. Chinese automaker Geely is also chasing satellite phone connectivity, and it's got a unique edge, since it's currently the only car company running its own growing constellation of low-earth-orbit satellites, over 30 and counting, with plans to reach 72 by the end of 2025. They were originally launched to support navigation for autonomous driving, but now also handle broader communication services.Between BMW's tie-up with Viasat and Geely's in-house satellite fleet, it's starting to look like a real race to get your next car talking to space, not just GPS pings, but actual voice and text, from the middle of nowhere.This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jul 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Auto section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.