Last year, Verizon announced that it was teaming up with Skylo to integrate direct-to-device messaging capabilities to its customers using satellite connectivity, in a sign of how satellites are increasingly being viewed as a complementary technology to cellular and Wi-Fi networks for achieving global coverage, regardless of the device’s location.
In the announcement that Verizon would be launching a direct-to-device messaging service for its customers, they said they were “encouraged by progress being made in satellite to device communications”. This was a brief nod to an industry that is growing, buoyed by interest and investment.
Direct-to-device messaging operates by establishing a direct communication link between a satellite and mobile device – so, in short, a user can send and receive messages without using traditional cellular infrastructure, and can instead use satellite connectivity to do so. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are commonly used for these communications because of their high-speed and low-latency features, as well as their proximity to Earth.
In the same announcement, a representative of Skylo said that their collaborative work “strengthens our belief in network convergence between satellite and cellular, and now this vision is a reality today for both customers and enterprises”.
Companies turning their gaze to satellite connectivity
Verizon is certainly not alone in casting its gaze towards space for the connectivity it needs. Joining its ranks are Apple, who has invested a significant amount of money in satellite infrastructure to enable iPhone 14 and later models to connect with emergency services when outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, and SpaceX’s Starlink division, which is in the process of developing satellite cellular services.
In November 2022, Apple said it would be investing $450 million into critical infrastructure, to support an emergency SOS feature via satellite for its iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models. Apple said it was working with Globalstar on this, utilising the spectrum in L and S bands specifically for mobile satellite services. This meant when an iPhone user made an emergency SOS via satellite request, the message was received by one of Globalstar’s LEO satellites.
As well as emergency services, iPhone users can access the Find My app and share their location using satellite services where cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity is not sufficient.
The Starlink division is in the process of developing its direct to cell service, and in November 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted it approval to provide direct to phone services for T-Mobile customers. This followed emergency alert testing that took place in September of last year, where T-Mobile successfully tested emergency alerts sent via Starlink satellites.
In more recent news, Telstra and SpaceX’s Starlink are tapping into Starlink’s satellites for direct-to-handset messaging for Telstra’s customers in Australia, as Telstra said it expected this move to be most beneficial to customers living in remote areas of the country.
And last year, the UK Space Agency announced up to £3.5 million in funding towards testing hybrid connectivity solutions, demonstrating that interest in satellites to provide well-needed coverage in the more challenging areas is not limited to MNOs, but to nations too. With three projects on the go, the work will aim to investigate the potential of integrating satellite technologies to deliver gigabit-capable speeds.
How close are we to satellite services on our phones?
These announcements beg the question: how close are we to regularly using satellite connectivity on our phones to send messages? This seems to depend not only on existing satellite infrastructure, but also mobile phones and whether they support satellite communications as a feature.
Currently, Apple introduced satellite connectivity with its iPhone 14 series, while the release of Android 15 in October 2024 allowed users to send and receive satellite-enabled messages.
Noteworthy examples of companies working collaboratively on satellite connectivity include T-Mobile and Starlink utilising Starlink satellites and T-Mobile’s spectrum to bring connectivity to customers; Telstra is testing direct-to-handset services via Starlink; AST SpaceMobile is building a cellular broadband network in space accessible by smartphones; and in 2023, Qualcomm and Iridium announced an agreement that saw the introduction of the Snapdragon Satellite service, which was expected to be launched in the second half of 2023, but Qualcomm ended the partnership in November 2023, citing a lack of interest in smartphone manufacturers.
This may have dealt a figurative blow to an industry which expects satellite connectivity to be skyrocketing shortly – but seemingly uncowed by the result, last year Iridum introduced Project Stardust: a satellite to cell phone service focused on messaging and emergency communications that uses the NB-IoT standard. The service is expected to be launched in 2026 and will serve as an additional offering to Iridum’s LEO satellite network.
For now, using satellite connectivity for mobile communications appears to be in its infancy – but rest assured, the concerted efforts of companies like Verizon and Skylo will surely soon see these efforts bear fruit, and for most mobile phones to be able to use satellites to make emergency calls in remote, rural locations.
There’s plenty of other editorial on our sister site, Electronic Specifier! Or you can always join in the conversation by commenting below or visiting our LinkedIn page.
