D2D Satellite Operators Are Not Serving the Needs of MNOs

Why It Matters

The inability of D2D satellites to offer comprehensive, seamless services hampers MNOs’ efforts to extend coverage and meet enterprise demand, slowing the broader adoption of satellite‑augmented mobile networks.

Key Takeaways

• D2D satellite services currently limited to NB‑IoT, messaging, narrowband data.
• Advanced constellations for voice and broadband still not globally available.
• Multi‑constellation approach needed for full cellular portfolio coverage.
• Siloed deployment models increase cost and complexity for MNOs.
• Standardized platform could unify access to diverse D2D constellations.

Pulse Analysis

The buzz surrounding direct‑to‑device (D2D) satellite connectivity surged at Mobile World Congress 2026, where operators announced a wave of agreements with mobile network operators (MNOs). Yet the operational reality is far more modest. To date, only a limited set of markets have seen D2D services, and those are restricted to narrowband Internet of Things (NB‑IoT), basic messaging and low‑rate data streams. The next‑generation constellations that promise true voice and broadband performance are still in development, leaving a gap between market expectations and the technology that can actually be delivered at scale.

The core obstacle is not just the pace of satellite launches but the way providers package their offerings. Each constellation—whether GEO, MEO or LEO—optimises for a narrow slice of the cellular portfolio, and most operators have adopted a siloed provisioning model. Iridium, Skylo, Sateliot and others rely on generic roaming, while Starlink pushes a direct‑to‑consumer approach that bypasses MNOs entirely. This fragmentation forces carriers to negotiate separate contracts, integrate disparate ground‑segment interfaces and manage inconsistent network‑slicing capabilities, inflating both CAPEX and OPEX for MNOs and their enterprise customers.

Industry observers suggest that a unified, multi‑constellation platform could resolve these inefficiencies. By aggregating complementary satellites under a single API and standardized deployment framework, MNOs would gain access to the full suite of cellular services—voice, broadband, IoT—without juggling multiple vendors. Partnerships among satellite players, such as the emerging collaborations between Lynk, Omni Space and SES, hint at this direction, while intermediary platform providers are already prototyping neutral‑host solutions. If the ecosystem coalesces around a common model, D2D satellite services could finally move from niche experiments to a mainstream extension of mobile networks.