Satellite D2D Moving Into the Mainstream for Mobile Players – GSA

Why It Matters

Satellite D2D expands 5G reach into underserved regions, unlocking new revenue streams for operators and enabling ubiquitous IoT connectivity. The convergence of terrestrial and non‑terrestrial standards accelerates market adoption and drives investment in spectrum and infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• 97 operators in 70 countries announced satellite D2D investments.
• Skylo secures D2D deals with Orange, Verizon, Vodafone IoT.
• Amazon's $11.5 B Globalstar purchase driven by valuable spectrum assets.
• Sateliot raises €100 M (US$117 M) for IoT 5G satellite constellation.
• 42 operators invest in 5G RedCap, expanding low‑cost IoT services.

Pulse Analysis

The surge in satellite D2D activity reflects operators’ urgency to fill coverage gaps that traditional cell sites cannot reach. By leveraging 3GPP Release 17 NTN specifications, carriers can integrate satellite links directly into existing 5G core networks, offering seamless handoffs and unified billing. This standards‑first approach reduces fragmentation, lowers integration costs, and encourages a broader ecosystem of equipment vendors and device makers to support satellite‑enabled smartphones and IoT modules.

Key players are translating the standards into commercial pilots. Skylo’s multi‑orbit strategy, backed by partnerships with Orange, Verizon and Vodafone IoT, showcases a flexible model that can serve both consumer broadband and massive‑IoT use cases. Sateliot’s recent €100 million Series C round underscores investor confidence in a dedicated 5G‑satellite constellation for IoT, while Amazon’s $11.5 billion acquisition of Globalstar secures critical spectrum assets that will underpin future broadband and low‑latency services. These moves signal a shift from ad‑hoc satellite contracts to long‑term, spectrum‑rich platforms that can scale globally.

The satellite push dovetails with the broader 5G evolution. As 5G standalone (SA) networks mature—now representing 28.5 % of global 5G deployments—operators are poised to upgrade to 5G Advanced and RedCap, which lower device costs and broaden IoT applicability. The convergence of SA, Advanced, and satellite D2D creates a unified architecture where low‑power RedCap devices can communicate via terrestrial or satellite links without separate stacks. This integrated pathway promises faster rollout of services in remote markets, new revenue models for carriers, and a more resilient global connectivity fabric.