At the recent Mobile World Conference 2026 in Barcelona, the presence of Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite services and the large number of press releases related to agreements signed between D2D satellite service providers and mobile network operators (MNOs) gave the impression that large-scale implementation of D2D services by MNOs is imminent. However, the truth is quite different.
It remains to be seen whether more advanced D2D services will be available globally
A closer look at the current state of D2D services reveals that the launch of these services is limited to a relatively small number of countries and very basic cellular services such as NB-IoT, messaging, and narrowband data services. As launch schedules for more advanced constellations with more capacity continue to be delayed, it remains unclear when direct-to-consumer voice and broadband data services will be available globally.
Therefore, full-scale rollout of these services will likely take longer than satellite operators have promised. The good news is that this will give D2D satellite operators time to resolve certain shortcomings in their constellations and systems and mitigate the shortcomings of their chosen approach.
While there is real and large-scale interest in the mobile industry to launch D2D services to extend the availability of cellular service portfolios beyond the limited coverage of terrestrial networks, the realization will be much more complex than D2D satellite operators claim. This is primarily driven by the fact that satellite systems need to address specific space-related challenges and limitations compared to terrestrial cellular systems, and the choice of D2D satellite operators to apply a siled approach in service deployment and provisioning.
Limitations of satellite systems
Due to the limitations and different frequency bands of GEO, MEO, and LEO satellite systems compared to terrestrial cellular networks, the design of the space and ground segments of each satellite constellation supporting any type of D2D service must consider the following:
- The unique characteristics of each constellation make it more appropriate to provide the best service in only certain parts of the complete terrestrial cellular service portfolio.
- No single satellite carrier can support each of these services at the best possible price-to-performance ratio.
Therefore, only a multi-constellation approach can deliver a complete D2D portfolio that provides global coverage extensions for a complete terrestrial cellular service portfolio of MNOs and mobile private networks (MPNs) for enterprises and government agencies.
By combining multiple constellations, rather than working with just one D2D satellite operator, terrestrial cellular operators can offer a more complete portfolio of D2D services and become more independent from any one particular satellite operator. This provides better redundancy, service continuity, faster and wider geographic coverage, especially when traditional satellite carriers are used as part of this mix.
Siled approach
A complicating factor for MNOs and MPNs in applying multi-constellation strategies is the siled deployment and provisioning models used by different satellite carriers.
For example, D2D NB-IoT satellite operators such as Iridium, Skylo, Sateliot, and Qtech use generalized roaming for MNOs to extend terrestrial network coverage, but this does not provide consistent network slicing and MEC across third-party networks.
Starlink D2C wants to reduce the role of MNOs to mere resellers and provide services directly to end users, complete with in-building coverage by local MNOs.
Space Mobile has appointed Vodafone as its exclusive European distribution partner. Vodafone provides a level of service to MNOs across Europe through its own terrestrial segment infrastructure and service creation and delivery platform.
MDA, the satellite manufacturer that got stuck with Echostar’s D2D satellite constellation when it exited the D2D game, is now planning to become a “neutral host” satellite operator, offering MNOs, enterprises, and government agencies the possibility of becoming virtual satellite operators for their own constellations through its proprietary enabler platform.
Viasat plans to go a step further with Space42 and launch a large constellation of D2D satellites that other satellite operators will use to provide D2D services to their customers.
Therefore, while different models work well for each satellite operator’s specific D2D service offering, the problem is that MNOs and MPNs will end up with a wide variety of deployment and business models. This makes it highly inefficient and costly for MNOs to connect to these different D2D constellations in order to obtain a complete portfolio of D2D satellite services that matches a complete portfolio of terrestrial cellular services and supports all of the client’s use cases.
How to break down silos with D2D
For D2D satellite operators who seem to be somewhat blinded by the bright lights of their own constellations shining down on us, I believe now is the right time to look down the chain and act to better serve the needs of our distribution partners. So not only will you be competing for your own piece of the pie, but the whole pie will eventually become even bigger.
To enable rapid and large-scale adoption of services by MNOs, enterprises, and government agencies, direct-to-consumer satellite operators need to make it easier for these agencies to connect to their services in a more consistent manner. To facilitate this, the satellite industry should evaluate the following options to break down D2D silos:
The best solution is for all D2D satellite operators to agree on one standardized deployment and provisioning model and adjust their systems accordingly. However, this option is not feasible for satellite constellations that are already fully or partially launched, as the different deployment and delivery models are a direct result of the space and ground segment designs of different D2D satellite systems.
A more realistic option for these D2D satellite operators is to form partnerships with other D2D satellite operators such as Lynk, Omni Space, and SES. This allows us to offer a D2D service portfolio that more closely mirrors our reseller’s terrestrial cellular service portfolio in different constellations and provides access to these services through one consistent deployment model. However, this will only get you halfway at best, as just two or three D2D constellations combined cannot cover the entire terrestrial cellular service portfolio.
This leaves us with only one option at this point. This means that all D2D satellite operators will embrace intermediary platform providers that provide access to all complementary D2D constellations that can cover the entire terrestrial cellular service portfolio through one platform with one consistent deployment and integration model.
D2D services are at risk of becoming too complex for MNOs, enterprises, and government agencies, and this is the best way to solve the problem.
Enrico Ottolini is the co-founder and executive director of Planet Earth Connect. He has over 25 years of extensive international experience in both the mobile and satellite communications industries. Based on this experience, he guides carriers and solution providers through rapidly changing and fragmented LEO-sat environments.
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