{"id":54349,"date":"2022-11-28T21:15:21","date_gmt":"2022-11-28T13:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/the-coming-era-of-satellite-direct-to-handset-connectivity\/"},"modified":"2022-11-28T21:15:21","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T13:15:21","slug":"the-coming-era-of-satellite-direct-to-handset-connectivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/the-coming-era-of-satellite-direct-to-handset-connectivity\/","title":{"rendered":"The Coming Era of Satellite Direct-to-Handset Connectivity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There is not a single regulatory framework that addresses mobile cellular devices with satellite capabilities \u2013 this unaddressed dichotomy belongs to the past. National satellite service licensing frameworks need to be flexible enough to allow for the smartphones of the present, because satellite direct-to-handset connectivity is an industry development that is here to stay. Traditional licensing, focused on satellites serving many identical terminals, will need to be adapted for a smartphone market with a multiplicity of vendors, as well as users that switch providers. National planning for spectrum utilization that is solely focused on military, state-related, or non-connectivity will lag behind for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n<p>In the 90s, satellite terminals were a privilege that few businesspeople and government officials had access to, with a focus on business continuity to assist critical decision-making by connecting to a state-of-the-art Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation. Iridium was a game changer for the global user. Today, however, a wave of LEO constellations is in the making, leaving behind the excessive optimism with which our industry welcomed some of these projects in the past. Recent announcements tell us that the integration of terrestrial networks and non-terrestrial networks is leapfrogging.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GtpgBuvuS9SGpH248j8r_VS_120122_DGTL_Cover_2-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GtpgBuvuS9SGpH248j8r_VS_120122_DGTL_Cover_2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GtpgBuvuS9SGpH248j8r_VS_120122_DGTL_Cover_2-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GtpgBuvuS9SGpH248j8r_VS_120122_DGTL_Cover_2-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GtpgBuvuS9SGpH248j8r_VS_120122_DGTL_Cover_2.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the December 2022 Issue<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-0 fs-smaller text-balance\">Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"offcanvas\" data-bs-target=\"#offcanvasMENU\" aria-controls=\"offcanvasExample\" aria-label=\"button\" style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tView More <i class=\"bi bi-arrow-right-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<p>According to Northern Sky Research, the direct satellite-to-device market is the single biggest opportunity in satellite comms history. Predicting revenue generation of $60 billion with up to 350 million subscribers by 2030, their assessment is evidenced by recent cellular and satellite industry partnerships. Apple has recently announced that the new iPhone can connect to Globalstar\u2019s network for emergency calls, while Huawei plans to use China\u2019s BeiDou satellites. But partnerships do not end with mobile phone manufacturers; mobile network operators (MNOs) are also partnering up with the satellite industry to extend their coverage. That is the case with T-Mobile, which is joining forces with Starlink to provide SMS and messaging services in underserved areas. By using a slice of the 1.9 gigahertz band that is already employed by terrestrial mobile networks, unmodified smartphones can connect to satellites without any additional gadgets. Lynk and other startups are also betting on this approach, and even Iridium has hinted that they will be entering the direct-to-handset market.<\/p>\n<p>The idea is not to make consumers choose between a cellular or a satellite phone, but to turn their phone into a satellite terminal. This can be done either by including satellite-capable hardware into modern cell phones, as exemplified by Apple and Huawei, or by designing cellular-capable hardware into satellites, which is what Starlink and Lynk are doing. Either way, partnerships, not competition, between the mobile and the satellite industries mean that smartphones will progressively have integrated satellite connectivity. So much so that the 3GPP release 17 standardized unique cooperation between 5G and non-terrestrial networks, including satellites, to provide a seamless transition between the two.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these exciting developments, several challenges need to be addressed before the dream of a high data rate and seamless global direct-to-handset services can be realized. The recently announced services will focus on low data rate, text, and voice-based communications. For high-speed broadband connections, a migration to higher frequencies may be necessary to access larger bandwidths with more capacity.  Some millimeter wave frequency bands identified for international mobile communications by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are also allocated to mobile satellite services and could be used by the two services on the same devices. While 5G is expected to use these frequency bands for indoor and hotspot connectivity, satellite operators may be able to connect to hardware already present in mobile phones to extend existing coverage. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6c4d9921cfe;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6c4d9921cfe = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6c4d9921cff').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6c4d9921cff'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The challenge for them, however, will be designing satellites capable of picking up faint signals from smartphones in environments with all sorts of obstructions and interference from terrestrial networks. Alternatively, manufacturing devices with capabilities in traditional satellite bands is also a possibility. With constant developments in millimeter wave smartphone electronics, the future may as well give us Ku- or Ka band-capable devices.<\/p>\n<p>There is a growing expectation that satellite systems will play an important role in complementing terrestrial networks. The ITU is working on its vision for mobile communications beyond 2030, and non-terrestrial networks, including satellites, are expected to form an important part. The details of such partnerships are still unclear, and the path forward faces an increasing number of issues, such as guaranteeing a sustainable use of spectrum resources and dealing with competition.<\/p>\n<p>Most industry leaders would agree that the key difference between today\u2019s progress and that of the \u201890s is an understanding that satellite systems complement, but do not replace, cellular communications. Consequently, the two industries have been collaborating in ways never seen before in order to power satellite connectivity for everyday smartphones. While current projects focus on a low data rate and emergency communications, regulatory bodies will be doing a disservice by not envisioning and facilitating the frameworks required for broadband direct-to-handset connectivity. This may be how ubiquitous connectivity is finally achieved. <strong class=\"Annotation -strong\">VS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em class=\"Annotation -emphasis\">Ivan Suarez is a senior policy manager for Access Partnership.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em class=\"Annotation -emphasis\">Calil Queiroz is a regulatory engineer for Access Partnership.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"widget-title\">In This Issue<\/h2>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405210:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/i1G5tB95SweCetyPhlBf_VS_120122_DGTL_2022-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/i1G5tB95SweCetyPhlBf_VS_120122_DGTL_2022-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/i1G5tB95SweCetyPhlBf_VS_120122_DGTL_2022-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/i1G5tB95SweCetyPhlBf_VS_120122_DGTL_2022-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/i1G5tB95SweCetyPhlBf_VS_120122_DGTL_2022.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t2022: An Eventful Year in Satcom<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405197:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/xNqPKifTDOY8M0YEx7Xy_VS_120122_DGTL_Globalstar-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/xNqPKifTDOY8M0YEx7Xy_VS_120122_DGTL_Globalstar-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/xNqPKifTDOY8M0YEx7Xy_VS_120122_DGTL_Globalstar-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/xNqPKifTDOY8M0YEx7Xy_VS_120122_DGTL_Globalstar-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/xNqPKifTDOY8M0YEx7Xy_VS_120122_DGTL_Globalstar.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tGlobalstar\u2019s Apple Deal Puts CEO David Kagan in the Perfect SPOT to Think Big<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405204:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gl3xV93oRQqz6SFETpMQ_VS_120122_DGTL_Regional-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gl3xV93oRQqz6SFETpMQ_VS_120122_DGTL_Regional-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gl3xV93oRQqz6SFETpMQ_VS_120122_DGTL_Regional-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gl3xV93oRQqz6SFETpMQ_VS_120122_DGTL_Regional-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gl3xV93oRQqz6SFETpMQ_VS_120122_DGTL_Regional.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tRegional Operators: What is Their Place in the New Satellite World?<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405192:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Mg6oQWTTxi3ufXJwZtVQ_VS_120122_DGTL_Inside_Cover-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Mg6oQWTTxi3ufXJwZtVQ_VS_120122_DGTL_Inside_Cover-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Mg6oQWTTxi3ufXJwZtVQ_VS_120122_DGTL_Inside_Cover-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Mg6oQWTTxi3ufXJwZtVQ_VS_120122_DGTL_Inside_Cover-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Mg6oQWTTxi3ufXJwZtVQ_VS_120122_DGTL_Inside_Cover.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSizing Up the Satellite-to-Cell Opportunity<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405217:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uo3IvlxTE6Rerv4cXKu4_ED_Note-300x167.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uo3IvlxTE6Rerv4cXKu4_ED_Note-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uo3IvlxTE6Rerv4cXKu4_ED_Note-800x446.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uo3IvlxTE6Rerv4cXKu4_ED_Note-640x357.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/uo3IvlxTE6Rerv4cXKu4_ED_Note.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tThe New Normal in Satellite<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There is not a single regulatory framework that addresses mobile cellular devices with satellite capabilities \u2013 this unaddressed dichotomy belongs to the past. National satellite service licensing frameworks need to be flexible enough to allow for the smartphones of the present, because satellite direct-to-handset connectivity is an industry development that is here to stay. Traditional [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54350,"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":[],"class_list":["post-54349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54349"}],"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=54349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}