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.

FCC chair explores space regulation integrating satellite and terrestrial networks

FCC chair explores space regulation integrating satellite and terrestrial networks
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Jessica Rosenworcel outlined a plan to integrate satellite and terrestrial networks during a session this week at MWC23 Barcelona by proposing a new regulatory framework.

Samsung secures NTN modem technology for direct communication between smartphones and satellites

Samsung secures NTN modem technology for direct communication between smartphones and satellites
Samsung Electronic announced that it has secured standardized 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN) modem technology for direct communication between smartphones and satellites, especially in remote areas. Samsung plans to integrate this technology into the company’s Exynos modem solutions, accelerating the commercialization of 5G satellite communications and paving the way for the 6G-driven Internet of Everything (IoE) era.

5G Coverage by drones and challenges | Vinod Kumar Shrimali

5G drone coverage and challenges - TeckNexus
A drone flying cell tower is a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a 5G base station, which can be deployed to provide coverage in remote or hard-to-reach areas. These flying cell towers can be rapidly deployed and offer several advantages over traditional stationary cell towers, including increased flexibility, faster deployment, and the ability to cover larger areas with fewer towers.

Nokia and Bosch set a new bar for 5G positioning and look ahead to 6G

Nokia and Bosch today announced that they have jointly developed 5G-based precision positioning technology intended for new Industry 4.0 use cases. The two have deployed the proof of concept in a Bosch production plant in Germany, where extensive tests under realistic manufacturing conditions have shown an accuracy within 50 cm in 90 percent of the factory footprint.

Telefónica enables 5G communication between drones and Smart Cities

Telefónica enables 5G communication between drones and Smart Cities
This project entails communication between multiple drones in mid-air and various interconnected urban elements for the successful delivery of a package to its designated mobile collection point. It combines multiple technologies - including 5G, C-V2X communications (the same technology employed in modern connected cars), RTK technology, and mobile location. This proposal, a part of Telefónica's 5G Madrid project, has been made possible by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation through Red.es with co-financing from FEDER funds under the established call for 5G grants. To ensure the success of this project, Telefónica has partnered with Correos as their use case recipient and also teamed up with Gradiant, Ericsson, and Genasys.

AST SpaceMobile announces collaboration with Zain KSA

AST SPACEMOBILE ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION WITH ZAIN KSA
The MoU would enable AST SpaceMobile and Zain KSA to collaborate towards new telecom solutions and satellite-based digital services in Saudi Arabia and aim to increase access to mobile services in remote locations, including on land, at sea, and in flight.

AST SpaceMobile announces collaboration with TIM

AST SpaceMobile announces collaboration with TIM
AST SpaceMobile signed a non-binding MoU with TIM to increase the scope of cellular connectivity and bring space-based coverage to Brazil.

OneWeb kicks off RAF rugby union sponsorship

OneWeb kicks off RAF rugby union sponsorship
The Royal Air Force has agreed to a new partnership with OneWeb, which will see the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company sign a two-season prime sponsorship deal with the RAF's Rugby Union (RAFRU) teams. This sponsorship gives Oneweb the opportunity to understand better how the RAF operates and also allows them to better understand how its global connectivity platform can meet the future demands of defense around the world.

Galaxy Broadband secures OneWeb capacity for Canada

Galaxy Broadband secures OneWeb capacity for Canada
Galaxy Broadband signs a US$50 million multi-year deal to provide OneWeb's low Earth orbit satellite services to Canada. Deal includes a new Internet service to communities in the northern territory of Nunavut.

OneWeb and Kazakhstan National Railways to work together to unlock the potential of LEO connectivity across Kazakhstan

OneWeb and Kazakhstan National Railways to work together to unlock the potential of LEO connectivity across Kazakhstan
OneWeb and Kazakhstan National Railways Company "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" sign a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate in fixed and land mobility LEO satellite connectivity services. The MoU will facilitate the transformation of the National Railways into an international multimodal digital logistics operator.

MATRIXX Brings Its 5G Monetization Solution to AWS Marketplace

MATRIXX Brings Its 5G Monetization Solution to AWS Marketplace
MATRIXX Software announced that MATRIXX Digital Commerce Platform (DCP) is available in AWS Marketplace. MATRIXX DCP is a converged charging engine that accelerates a telco's ability to innovate in the market and monetize in real-time, from network services to new consumer and business offers and valuable third-party relationships.

BT Group and Stratospheric Platforms trial HAPS aircraft based 4G/5G coverage in remote areas

BT Group and Stratospheric platforms trial HAPS aircraft based 4G/5G coverage in remote areas
BT Group and Stratospheric Platforms Ltd have joined forces for mobile coverage trial at BT’s Adastral Park facility. This new antenna technology seeks to provide 4G and 5G from the air in an effort to unlock connectivity for hard-to-reach areas with cost-efficient sustainability.

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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