Satellite & NTN

Satellite and non-terrestrial networks (NTN) extend connectivity beyond the reach of ground-based infrastructure, using low-earth-orbit constellations, geostationary satellites, and high-altitude platforms. A major shift is the integration of satellite directly into cellular standards, enabling direct-to-device services that let ordinary phones connect via satellite where there is no terrestrial coverage. NTN is increasingly viewed not as a competitor to mobile networks but as a complement — filling coverage gaps, adding resilience, and supporting IoT and emergency communications. For operators and enterprises, satellite partnerships and spectrum are becoming strategic. This channel covers satellite and NTN developments — constellations, direct-to-device, standards integration, and operator partnerships — with analysis of how non-terrestrial connectivity is moving from niche to a mainstream layer of the connectivity landscape, and where the business case genuinely holds.

SpaceX IPO, Starlink & Defense Contracts: What It Means for Telecom Strategy

SpaceX IPO, Starlink & Defense Contracts: What It Means for Telecom Strategy
SpaceX is evolving from a rocket company into a vertically integrated infrastructure conglomerate with direct implications for satellite connectivity, defense communications, AI, and enterprise network strategy. With a planned $2 trillion Nasdaq IPO targeting $75 billion in capital, over $6 billion in cumulative U.S. government contracts, and Starlink expanding as a tier-one connectivity layer, SpaceX is positioning itself as a direct competitor in telecom markets. Telecom operators and enterprise IT leaders must stress-test their non-terrestrial network strategies now, before IPO capital accelerates SpaceX's competitive timelines across every market it touches.

Verizon Satellite Strategy: Resilience Layer and Direct-to-Device Connectivity

Verizon Satellite Strategy: Resilience Layer and Direct-to-Device Connectivity
Verizon has expanded its satellite asset fleet to 2,600 units in 2025, introducing a multi-orbit off-road trailer capable of switching between GEO and LEO connectivity. The carrier is also piloting permanent satellite backhaul at high-risk cell towers across Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas. Through a $100 million partnership with AST SpaceMobile, Verizon is advancing direct-to-device satellite connectivity using standard smartphones. Satellite is positioned not as a replacement for fiber or 5G, but as a planned resilience layer and coverage extension tool for enterprise and public safety stakeholders.

SCWS 2026 agenda reflects defining year for small cells

SCWS 2026 agenda reflects defining year for small cells
Registration is now open for Small Cells World Summit 2026, the global conference series dedicated to small cells, DAS and the wireless ecosystem. With 2026 forecast as a defining year for small cells deployment, the SCWS agenda will focus on network sharing, outdoor and venue connectivity, AI RAN, Edge AI, 6G rollout, non-terrestrial networks, private enterprise networks and neutral host in-building solutions.

Telefonica Spain, Sateliot team on 5G NTN services

Telefonica Spain, Sateliot team on 5G NTN services
Telefonica Spain and Barcelona-based Sateliot have announced a strategic collaboration to integrate 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks with terrestrial 5G standalone deployments, moving NTN from standards discussion into active deployment planning. Built on the 3GPP Release 17 NTN standard and validated through a 2023 ESA-supervised interoperability test, the partnership targets defense, industrial IoT, maritime, and critical infrastructure sectors. The hybrid architecture supports unmodified NB-IoT devices connecting directly via LEO satellite, lowering enterprise adoption barriers and establishing a replicable model for operator-satellite collaboration across the telecom industry.

The Evolution of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)

Non-terrestrial networks are rapidly evolving from experimental satellite systems into an increasingly important part of the global 5G connectivity landscape. This eBook, developed by Radisys in collaboration with TeckNexus, explores how 3GPP standardization, satellite architecture innovation, and software-driven network design are reshaping NTN deployment models. It examines the transition from proprietary systems to standards-based 5G NR approaches, with coverage of transparent and regenerative NTN architectures, mobility management, quasi-Earth fixed and Earth-moving beams, and beam hopping for more efficient resource utilization. The eBook is designed for operators, architects, and industry stakeholders looking to better understand the technical, operational, and performance considerations shaping satellite-enabled 5G connectivity across diverse use cases and geographies.

Amazon buys Globalstar for $11.5B: D2D NTN

Amazon buys Globalstar for $11.5B: D2D NTN
Amazon will acquire Globalstar to accelerate Amazon Leo’s direct-to-device (D2D) roadmap, secure midband MSS spectrum, and extend satellite coverage to smartphones and IoT beyond terrestrial reach. Amazon is acquiring Globalstar in a cash-and-stock deal valued at roughly $11.5 billion, with Globalstar shareholders able to elect $90 per share in cash or Amazon stock subject to a cash cap and proration. Closing is targeted after regulatory approvals and satellite milestones, with Amazon guiding to 2027. Amazon plans to deploy a next-generation D2D system starting in 2028, delivering voice, messaging, and data to unmodified mobile devices.

US Mobile + Starlink Home Internet Bundle Pricing

US Mobile + Starlink Home Internet Bundle Pricing
US Mobile and Starlink have launched limited-time bundles that combine Starlink residential service with US Mobile’s unlimited mobile plans under a single account and bill. Entry pricing starts at $47 per month, which effectively blends a $30 Starlink residential tier (targeted around 100 Mbps) with a $17 US Mobile base unlimited plan. Higher Starlink speed tiers are available at $77 per month for a 200 Mbps option and $117 per month for a “Max” service that targets 400 Mbps or more. Compared with Starlink’s typical standalone rates of $50, $80, and $120 for the same speed tiers, the bundles represent meaningful savings for households that want both mobile and home internet.

MWC 2026 Keynote 2: Transforming Tomorrow’s Connected World

MWC 2026 Keynotes
Live Streamed on Mon, 2 Mar at 11:15 - 12:45 CET

Visionary voices from around the globe take the stage to reflect on the expanding scope of connectivity, from core networks to cloud platforms to the emerging capabilities that stretch beyond our planet. Join us to explore how the interplay of innovation, leadership and global collaboration can drive meaningful transformation. Discover how bold thinking and shared ambition can build on this momentum and redefine what is possible in an increasingly connected world.

Private Network Security Ecosystem

Private LTE, 5G, and CBRS networks are becoming the backbone of industrial operations. This article maps private network security vendors to a Four Pillars framework—Core Controls, Device Visibility, Detection & Response, and Orchestration—revealing where structural gaps emerge in real-world industrial deployments. From slice isolation and SIM lifecycle governance to OT micro-segmentation and SOC integration, it explains why layered enforcement—not vendor breadth—determines private 5G security resilience.

LMT Group partners with the European Space Agency to develop global dual-mode satellite IoT

Latvian tech company LMT Group will develop a dual-mode satellite IoT module in the next 12 months in partnership with the European Space Agency. This will enable devices to remain connected almost anywhere, addressing the "dead zones" – oceans, deep forests, and rural farmland – of global connectivity. The module will allow IoT devices to autonomously switch between terrestrial cellular and satellite networks (NTNs) without data loss or user intervention.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN)?
NTN refers to connectivity delivered via satellites, high-altitude platforms, or other non-ground-based infrastructure, working alongside, not instead of, traditional cell towers to extend coverage to places terrestrial networks don’t reach. The concept has been formally incorporated into 3GPP’s mobile network standards specifically to ensure satellite-based connectivity can integrate technically with standard cellular networks, rather than existing as a completely separate, incompatible system. This standardization matters because it means NTN connectivity can, in principle, work seamlessly alongside regular cellular service, allowing a device to fall back to satellite coverage automatically when terrestrial signal isn’t available, rather than requiring users to manually switch between two entirely separate systems.
What are the different types of NTN?
  • Satellite networks: These networks use satellites in orbit around the Earth to transmit and receive signals and include geostationary and Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks
  • Balloon networks: These networks use balloons that are floated high in the stratosphere to transmit and receive signals. They can be used for applications such as providing internet access in remote or hard-to-reach areas, as well as for remote sensing and scientific research.
  • High-altitude platform stations (HAPS): These networks use aircraft or airships that fly at high altitudes, such as the stratosphere, to transmit and receive signals. They can be used for similar applications to balloon networks, and they also have the added advantage of mobility.
  • Drone networks: These networks use drones, which are also referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to transmit and receive signals. They can be used for a wide range of applications, such as providing internet access in remote or hard-to-reach areas, remote sensing, scientific research, and commercial uses like delivery and inspection.
  • Stratospheric platform stations (SAPS): This network uses a platform stationed in the lower part of the stratosphere, such as a blimp, that can relay communications between ground and satellites or between ground and another SAPS.
  • Laser Communications: This network uses a laser to transmit data between two points. This technology is still in development, but it has great potential to provide high-bandwidth, low-latency communications.
Is satellite internet going to make cell towers obsolete?
No. The industry consensus treats satellite and direct-to-device connectivity as a complementary layer that extends coverage to remote and underserved areas, not a replacement for dense terrestrial 5G networks in cities and suburbs where ground infrastructure remains far more efficient at handling large volumes of simultaneous users. Terrestrial cell towers can support vastly more simultaneous connections and far higher data throughput per user within a given area than current satellite technology can practically deliver, making satellite connectivity better suited for filling coverage gaps, like remote rural areas, maritime and aviation routes, or emergency situations where terrestrial infrastructure has failed.
What is direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity?
Direct-to-device, often abbreviated D2D, lets ordinary smartphones connect directly to satellites for basic connectivity, such as text messaging and, increasingly, voice or limited data service, without needing a separate, dedicated satellite terminal or specialized hardware beyond what’s already built into many recent smartphone models. This represents a significant technical advance over older satellite phone technology, which required bulky, dedicated devices. Large satellite operators, including SpaceX’s Starlink, are positioning D2D as a broader connectivity layer that could eventually extend beyond emergency and remote-area use cases into more general-purpose coverage, though this more expansive vision remains considerably further from current commercial reality than basic emergency messaging service.
Why is satellite connectivity becoming a bigger topic in telecom circles in 2026?
Large satellite operators entering the connectivity market with very large addressable market projections are raising substantial industry questions about spectrum ownership, infrastructure economics, and how traditional telecom operators and satellite providers will share or compete for the same customers going forward. SpaceX’s Starlink, for instance, has framed its total addressable market across AI, connectivity, and space-enabled infrastructure as enormous, positioning direct-to-device satellite connectivity as a potential global connectivity layer. This scale of ambition has prompted genuine strategic concern within the traditional telecom industry about longer-term competitive dynamics and what role established carriers will play as satellite capabilities continue advancing rapidly.
How does NTN fit into 6G plans?
Standards bodies are explicitly designing 6G to include seamless integration between terrestrial and satellite networks as a core capability, aiming to close coverage gaps as a fundamental design goal rather than treating satellite as a bolt-on afterthought added after the main standard is already finalized. This reflects lessons learned from how NTN support was added to 5G somewhat later in that standard’s development process, with 6G planning intended to incorporate satellite integration considerations from earlier on. The explicit goal is a future network where a device can move seamlessly between terrestrial and satellite coverage without users needing to think about which type of connectivity they’re actually using.
What’s the difference between low-earth-orbit, medium-earth-orbit, and geostationary satellites for connectivity purposes?
Low-earth-orbit, or LEO, satellites orbit much closer to Earth than older satellite generations, typically a few hundred miles up, which significantly reduces signal delay, or latency, making LEO constellations considerably more suitable for real-time applications like voice calls than earlier satellite generations were. Medium-earth-orbit satellites sit considerably farther out and are less commonly used for the consumer broadband and direct-to-device connectivity currently generating the most attention. Geostationary satellites orbit much farther from Earth, remaining fixed relative to a specific ground point, useful for certain broadcast applications but introducing meaningfully higher latency, generally making them less suitable for interactive connectivity compared to LEO constellations.
Do existing smartphones actually support satellite connectivity today, or is special hardware required?
A growing number of recent smartphone models do support some form of satellite connectivity natively, generally for specific, limited use cases like emergency messaging when no cellular signal is available, rather than full general-purpose satellite data service. This built-in support typically depends on having a relatively recent device with a modem chipset specifically designed to support satellite frequencies, meaning older devices generally cannot access these features even through a software update. As direct-to-device satellite services continue expanding beyond basic emergency messaging toward more general data and voice capability, broader satellite support is expected to become a more standard smartphone feature over time, similar to how 5G modem support gradually became standard.
What regulatory and spectrum challenges does satellite connectivity raise for traditional telecom operators?
Spectrum that terrestrial carriers have historically used exclusively may need to be shared or coordinated with satellite operators offering direct-to-device service using similar or overlapping frequencies, raising technical interference concerns and complex regulatory coordination questions that vary by country. There are also competitive and regulatory fairness questions, since satellite operators offering connectivity services may not be subject to the same licensing requirements or local infrastructure investment expectations that traditional terrestrial carriers face in a given country, potentially creating an uneven competitive playing field regulators are still actively working through. These unresolved questions are part of why traditional operators have approached large-scale satellite providers with a mix of cautious partnership interest and genuine competitive concern.

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