Viasat, the US-based satellite communications company, has completed Mexico’s first demonstration of direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, sending native SMS messages via satellite on standard Android smartphones.
At an event in Mexico City, the company showcased text messaging and push-to-talk functions routed through its I-4 F3 satellite using 3GPP non-terrestrial network (NTN) standards. The trial featured two off-the-shelf Android devices—one connected to the satellite and the other to a conventional mobile network—successfully exchanging messages without requiring specialist satellite hardware.
The demonstration, carried out in partnership with Skylo, which supplied the NTN radio and core infrastructure, also included tests using Viasat’s HMD Offgrid device and the Bullitt application to extend satellite-based SMS and push-to-talk services. All messages relied on Viasat’s global L-band satellite network, a spectrum already licensed for such use.
The D2D technology, underpinned by global 3GPP Release 17 standards, enables ordinary smartphones to connect directly to satellites, bypassing terrestrial mobile networks. Viasat said this approach allows collaboration with mobile operators without causing interference to existing services.
Héctor Rivero, Viasat Mexico’s General Manager, said the technology could help bridge connectivity gaps in rural and underserved areas. “Expanding our D2D innovation to Mexico demonstrates the potential it holds for the entire region,” he said. “This technology can connect millions of individuals and devices in places where traditional networks are unreliable or non-existent.”
The company has carried out similar trials in India, the Middle East, Brazil, and Hawaii, and is positioning itself as a key player in the emerging D2D ecosystem. Viasat is a founding member of the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA), a non-profit group promoting open-standards satellite connectivity.
Last month, Viasat announced a joint venture with UAE-based Space42 to form Equatys, aimed at developing global D2D services and transitioning mobile satellite networks to 5G.
Viasat, which acquired British rival Inmarsat in 2023, operates across 24 countries and is developing what it calls a “global communications network” spanning ground, air, and maritime domains.
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