Telef\u00f3nica Germany has partnered with Luxembourg-based satellite operator OQ Technology to test direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications, marking a step toward integrating satellite connectivity with conventional mobile networks.<\/p>\n
The companies are conducting trials in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, using Telef\u00f3nica Deutschland\u2019s frequency spectrum to evaluate two-way text messaging and voice communication directly between satellites and standard mobile devices.<\/p>\n
The initiative is designed to support the development of more resilient communications infrastructure while contributing to broader European ambitions for digital sovereignty.<\/p>\n
OQ Technology specializes in 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) connectivity and operates what it describes as Europe\u2019s first low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation dedicated to direct-to-device communications.<\/p>\n
Unlike traditional satellite communications systems that often require specialized equipment, OQ\u2019s technology is intended to provide connectivity to unmodified smartphones and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.<\/p>\n
The current tests are focused on validating OQ\u2019s multi-band satellite technology and demonstrating its ability to support direct-to-device communications using spectrum licensed to Telef\u00f3nica Germany.<\/p>\n
The company\u2019s satellites operate in low Earth orbit at altitudes of approximately 500 to 600 kilometers.<\/p>\n
Compared with geostationary satellites positioned much farther from Earth, LEO satellites can deliver lower latency and more targeted coverage for areas with limited or no terrestrial network access.<\/p>\n
The reduced distance between satellites and users can improve response times for services such as voice calls, messaging, and internet access.<\/p>\n
OQ Technology has already demonstrated direct-to-device connectivity using its own mobile satellite service (MSS) S-band spectrum and plans to launch an additional satellite mission dedicated to D2D services in mid-2026.<\/p>\n
The collaboration reflects growing interest in integrating non-terrestrial networks into future telecommunications standards.<\/p>\n
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the global organization responsible for developing mobile communications standards, is actively advancing NTN capabilities as part of ongoing network evolution.<\/p>\n
Industry participants expect satellite-based connectivity to play an increasingly important role in future 6G networks by extending coverage beyond traditional terrestrial infrastructure.<\/p>\n
The project also aligns with broader European efforts to strengthen the resilience of critical digital infrastructure and reduce reliance on non-European communications technologies.<\/p>\n
As governments and operators seek to improve connectivity in rural, remote, and underserved regions, direct-to-device satellite services are increasingly viewed as a complementary extension of terrestrial mobile networks.<\/p>\n
OQ Technology said its network is designed to provide secure and standardized connectivity services for consumers, enterprises, and government users.<\/p>\n
Satellite-mobile integration is also becoming a focus of international regulatory discussions.<\/p>\n
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is expected to address the future use of mobile spectrum for satellite services during the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference in Shanghai.<\/p>\n
One of the key issues under consideration will be how satellite operators can utilize mobile frequency bands while preserving the control of licensed spectrum holders.<\/p>\n
Telef\u00f3nica is participating in these discussions at both national and international levels as policymakers, network operators, and satellite companies work to establish frameworks for the next generation of integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial communications networks.<\/p>\n
The ongoing tests with OQ Technology provide an early demonstration of how such systems could function in future mobile ecosystems, potentially enabling seamless connectivity regardless of whether users are connected through cellular towers or satellites.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Telef\u00f3nica Germany has partnered with Luxembourg-based satellite operator OQ Technology to test direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications, marking a step toward integrating satellite connectivity with conventional mobile networks. The companies are conducting trials in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, using Telef\u00f3nica Deutschland\u2019s frequency spectrum to evaluate two-way text messaging and voice communication directly between satellites and standard mobile […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[5815,50,5816,5817,399,5818,454,455,2483,51,4944,5819,5744,3041,5820,5821,5822,5823,531,5824,451,4362,5825,5783,5739,5826,368,5827,5828,5829],"class_list":["post-19905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-3gpp","tag-5g","tag-6g","tag-connectivity-solutions","tag-d2d","tag-digital-sovereignty","tag-direct-to-device","tag-germany","tag-international-telecommunication-union","tag-iot","tag-itu","tag-leo-satellites","tag-low-earth-orbit","tag-luxembourg","tag-mobile-connectivity","tag-mobile-networks","tag-network-resilience","tag-non-terrestrial-networks","tag-ntn","tag-oq-technology","tag-satellite-communications","tag-satellite-internet","tag-satellite-messaging","tag-space-industry","tag-space-technology","tag-spectrum-management","tag-telecommunications","tag-telecommunications-infrastructure","tag-telefonica-deutschland","tag-telefonica-germany"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19905"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19905"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19905\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}