Thursday, July 17, 2025

Direct-to-Device: Two competing models in active testing phase

On one side are the established operators offering mobile services via satellite; on the other, the new entrants relying on large LEO constellations. Revenue forecasts project US$36 billion from D2D (direct-to-device) services by 2033.

Direct-to-Device (D2D) is clearly emerging as a key driver in the transformation of the satellite segment, in both of its main approaches. On one side are the established Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) operators, aiming to expand their offerings by adopting new 5G NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) standards for next-generation mobile devices. On the other side are new entrants, such as Starlink and AST SpaceMobile, deploying large LEO constellations and seeking to reuse terrestrial mobile spectrum, targeting customers with existing devices, without requiring modifications or upgrades.

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