BMW, Viasat showcase direct-to-car connection
February 9, 2026
Satellite operator Viasat is using its global coverage to demonstrate direct-to-car connectivity. The demo could also show the future of connectivity from a vehicle. An event in Sacramento, California, hosted by the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), showcased a BMW with the ability to make a voice call over satellite via the car using a Viasat craft.
Kevin Cohen, VP of direct-to-device (D2D) at Viasat, said the next evolution is for cars to connect to satellites, which can be important in remote areas that don’t have cellular service.
“So with this, when the cars go outside of cellular service, you can connect to the satellites, and you still have these safety capabilities,” said Cohen. “Qualcomm and MediaTek chipsets — they’re the main chipset providers for automotive connectivity — both have the capability to connect to cellular and to our satellites, because our satellites are 3GPP-compliant via narrowband IoT protocol.”
“The good thing about our frequency bands is the L and S band that we have spectrum rights to are right around the LTE and 5G frequencies,” said Cohen.
The technology is not yet built in to BMW vehicles but 15 technology manufacturers were in attendance at the 5GAA event.
“The Sacramento demonstrations represent an important milestone for connected mobility in the United States”, said 5GAA Chairman Christoph Voigt. “Seeing these technologies in action underscores how our members are delivering practical, interoperable solutions that enhance safety, connectivity, and mobility for drivers and communities”.
“The demonstrations also highlighted the power of connectivity beyond terrestrial networks. BMW, Harman, Qualcomm, Viasat and Fraunhofer showcased NTN satellite technologies, including a live bi-directional voice call over Narrowband IoT networks and satellite-enabled communications. These demonstrations illustrate how vehicles and connected devices can remain fully operational in remote areas, ensuring critical services are maintained even in difficult environments,” said the 5GAA.
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