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.

AT&T Users Tap T-Mobile Satellite D2D: Ookla Report

AT&T Users Tap T-Mobile Satellite D2D
New usage data shows AT&T subscribers are tapping into T-Mobile’s Starlink-powered T-Satellite more than expected, signaling a rapid shift in how carriers and customers think about direct-to-device connectivity. Speedtest intelligence indicates T-Mobile users account for the majority of direct-to-device (D2D) connections to Starlink, roughly six in ten overall and more than seven in ten among devices reporting active service at connection time. The surprise is AT&T’s footprint: about a third of observed connections come from AT&T subscribers, while Verizon’s share is minimal.

Orange SafetyCase adds OneWeb LEO for crisis connectivity

Orange SafetyCase adds OneWeb LEO for crisis connectivity
SafetyCase—Orange Business’s portable emergency telecoms unit—now bonds terrestrial access with OneWeb’s LEO satellite backhaul to keep voice, data, and video online when fixed and mobile networks fail. The move adds low-latency satellite links from a European operator to a solution already engineered and built in France, aligning with sovereignty and continuity mandates across the EU. The target users include first responders, public safety agencies, local authorities, operators of vital importance (OVIs), and essential enterprises. LEO adds a robust, geographically independent path that supports modern, IP-based coordination tools—push-to-talk over LTE/5G (MCX), live video, GIS—and does so with the latency profile field teams require.

India Satcom Rollout Nears After TRAI Spectrum Pricing

India Satcom Rollout Nears After TRAI Spectrum Pricing
India is poised to greenlight commercial satellite communication services once TRAI issues final pricing for satellite spectrum use and associated charges. The communications minister indicated the policy and licensing groundwork for satellite broadband is largely complete, with two GMPCS licenses issued and one additional letter of intent granted. The final trigger is the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s decision on spectrum pricing and usage fees for satcom bands. After that, operators can commence rollouts—initially for enterprise and backhaul, then for consumer broadband in selected markets. Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satellite unit are positioned to move early, with constellation capacity and gateways progressing.

Airbus Deploys Private 5G with Ericsson for Smart Factories in Hamburg & Toulouse

Airbus Deploys Private 5G with Ericsson for Smart Factories in Hamburg & Toulouse
Airbus has partnered with Ericsson to deploy private 5G networks at its Hamburg and Toulouse factories, transforming operations through secure, low-latency connectivity. The rollout supports AR, predictive maintenance, and IoT-driven smart manufacturing, setting a scalable model for global digital transformation.

KDDI Starlink on iPhone: Direct-to-Cell Satellite Data

KDDI Starlink on iPhone: Direct-to-Cell Satellite Data
KDDI’s move to enable satellite data on recent iPhones via “au Starlink Direct” is a meaningful step toward resilient, nationwide connectivity that blends terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. KDDI now supports satellite data communication on all models of iPhone 13 through iPhone 17, plus iPhone Air—21 models in total, so consumers and field teams can use essential apps when they are outside cellular coverage. The satellite layer augments KDDI’s 5G/4G LTE footprint; combined, the operator aims to cover virtually all of Japan’s geography, not just its population centers. Notably, the service is available to au subscribers and customers of other carriers.

DCC sends satellite spectrum plan back to TRAI

Unleashing the Power of 5G and Satellite | Meeting the Demands of a Connected World
India’s Digital Communications Commission has sent most of TRAI’s satellite spectrum recommendations back for review, signaling a tougher stance on pricing, compliance, and market safeguards. TRAI recommended that satellite internet providers pay 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) as spectrum usage charges, an additional Rs 500 per urban subscriber per year, and a minimum annual spectrum fee of Rs 3,500 per MHz when the AGR-linked payout falls short. At its September 16 meeting, the DCC—comprising senior DoT officials and representatives from finance, IT, and NITI Aayog—reviewed the satcom framework and withheld approval on most elements.

Space42 and Viasat’s Equatys NTN D2D on Largest MSS Spectrum

Equatys NTN D2D on Largest MSS Spectrum
Space42 and Viasat plan to form Equatys, a joint venture designed to deliver standards-based Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity to smartphones and IoT devices over a unified satellite–terrestrial network. The partners intend to launch a 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) platform that integrates with 5G networks and works with unmodified handsets and IoT modules. The companies say Equatys will aggregate well over 100 MHz of harmonized Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum already assigned across more than 160 markets, describing it as the largest coordinated block available for this purpose. Equatys positions itself as a neutral “space tower” operator that multiple licensed service providers can share.

M2M Connectivity launches solar IoT service to drive national growth and compliance

M2M Connectivity launches solar IoT service to drive national growth and compliance
Leading industrial IoT company M2M Connectivity has today launched a new IoT service for the solar industry in Australia. The service is designed to support residential and commercial solar uptake and help retailers and installers meet evolving connectivity regulations.

EchoStar pivots to satellite & NTN growth

EchoStar has reset its strategy after regulator-driven spectrum sales, trading long-cycle infrastructure bets for an asset-light, capital-rich posture focused on satcom growth. Federal Communications Commission scrutiny over spectrum utilization forced EchoStar to accelerate decisions it had hoped to phase over time. Complaints from rivals spurred investigations into whether the company was meeting buildout and use obligations. Even if EchoStar prevailed in court, the process risked tying up key licenses and stalling its direct-to-device (D2D) ambitions. The company opted to monetize holdings and remove uncertainty rather than fight a prolonged, value-destructive battle.

Starlink vs Fiber: SpaceX Urges FCC Parity

Starlink vs Fiber: SpaceX Urges FCC Parity
SpaceX wants the FCC to count Starlink as “advanced” broadband in its annual Section 706 report, a move that could reshape funding, benchmarks, and competition in rural internet buildouts. In 2024, the agency set a 100/20 Mbps benchmark, added affordability and adoption metrics, and floated a long-term goal of 1 Gbps/500 Mbps. SpaceX argues that excluding LEO distorts the national picture. The company says Starlink serves more than 2 million U.S. subscribers and posts median peak-hour speeds near 200 Mbps today. Rural electric co-ops and community telcos counter that LEO networks remain capacity constrained and variable.

5G NTN Direct-to-Device Demo by Capgemini, Thales & Thales Alenia Space for CNES

5G NTN Direct-to-Device Demo by Capgemini, Thales & Thales Alenia Space for France's space agency CNES
France’s space agency CNES has selected Capgemini, Thales, and Thales Alenia Space to lead a national demonstration of 5G direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity under the France 2030 investment program. The consortium will deliver “U DESERVE 5G,” a government-backed project designed to prove that standard mobile devices and fixed terminals can connect directly to a satellite using 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) technology. The team will launch a low Earth orbit (LEO) demonstrator satellite equipped with an active antenna payload able to form and steer beams directly to devices. The trial will evaluate interoperability with terrestrial 5G, handover behavior between networks, and user experience under varying coverage conditions

SpaceX buys EchoStar AWS-4/H-Block spectrum for $17B

SpaceX buys EchoStar AWS-4/H-Block spectrum for $17B
SpaceX agreed to acquire EchoStar’s AWS-4 and H-Block spectrum licenses in a transaction valued at up to $17 billion, split between as much as $8.5 billion in cash and up to $8.5 billion in SpaceX equity. As part of the package, SpaceX will also cover approximately $2 billion in cash interest payments on EchoStar debt through November 2027. The parties have also signed a long-term commercial agreement that would allow EchoStar’s Boost Mobile subscribers to access SpaceX’s next-generation Starlink “Direct to Cell” service once live.

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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