We’re excited to share the latest Real Wireless independent study by Dr Abhaya Sumanasena, Head of Policy and Regulation, and Wireless Technology Expert, Julius Robson, for the UK Spectrum Policy Forum, launched at techUK in November 2025, exploring the rapidly evolving landscape of satellite-to-device (D2D) connectivity and non-terrestrial networks (NTN).
Key insights include:
- Satellite D2D for billions: The evolution of satellite technologies and LEO mega constellations is revitalising satellite D2D connectivity. Integrating these capabilities directly into smartphones could bring satellite services to billions of mobile users worldwide.
- Partnerships and standards: Market entry has been shaped by various partnership models, defined by air interface and spectrum. Simpler partnerships have been first-to-market, while standards ecosystems enable supply chain diversity but take time to establish.
- Standards challenges: The NTN standards roadmap tackles key challenges like Doppler effects, delay, and mobility for terrestrial network integration. Typically, standards-based chipsets appear in devices around 18+ months after a 3GPP release freeze.
- Spectrum trade-offs: 3GPP’s assessment of IMT-2020 satellite rural area capacity suggests 2 × 30 MHz of spectrum is needed for NTN. However, the same capacity could be achieved with 3–6 MHz through higher cell density (smaller beams from larger antennas or lower orbits). But densification increases satellite costs, highlighting the trade-off between spectrum efficiency and business viability.
- Regulatory focus: Despite growing demand, finding new spectrum for MSS remains a major challenge. Efficient spectrum sharing among multiple operators, both satellite and mobile network operators, is a critical area for regulators and industry alike.
This report provides a comprehensive view of the opportunities, technical challenges, and regulatory considerations shaping the future of satellite D2D connectivity.
Download the report to understand how satellites are poised to transform mobile connectivity.
We believe this doesn’t stop here. This space is evolving rapidly. It would be helpful to explore further the opportunities and challenges of sharing between satellites and terrestrial mobile networks. A detailed study to determine spectrum requirements based on evolving use cases and service requirements could provide more insights. At Real Wireless, these topics are closely aligned with what we do, and we are happy to share further thoughts with interested parties. Get in touch
