Using Speedtest data, Ookla has taken a look at the early usage of T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service across T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and FirstNet users in the US. Speedtest data highlights the early usage of T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service, which works on most new iOS and Android smartphones released in the past 2-4 years. The service is available […]
A report from analysts at CreditSights has looked at the prospects for satellite delivered ‘direct-to-device’ (D2D) telephony and broadband. The report says that for the new entrants – the likes of SpaceX’s Starlink, AST SpaceMobile and Amazon’s Kuiper – the promise of D2D is that satellite companies will be able to access a much larger […]
Mavenir, the cloud-native network infrastructure provider building the future of networks, has been selected by Iridium Communications, a provider of global voice and data satellite communications, to deploy the Core Network of its Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN), helping to enable – 3GPP based Direct-to-Device (D2D) services. In support of Iridium NTN Direct, Mavenir will deliver its fully […]
Emirates-based Space42 and California-based Viasat have created Equatys, described as a joint-held entity, to enable global Direct-to-Device (D2D) services and evolving existing and planned Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) to a 5G network environment. Equatys will serve to unite satellite and terrestrial networks leveraging a 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Release compliant platform accessible to standard smartphones […]
EchoStar co-founder Charlie Ergen appeared at the Novaspace Paris World Space Business Week (WSBW) and, along with EchoStar CEO Hamid Akhavan, explained his strategy for delegates. “We are going to be an asset-light, growth company,” Akhavan told a press conference at WSBW. “That’s the forced pivot that we had to make by disposing of our […]
Starlink, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Eutelsat’s OneWeb and the SES/Jio plans for their satellite direct-to-consumer schemes might have an extra hurdle. Reports from India say that the government, which has been slow in issuing the necessary permits for these services to start, might now want to ‘cap’ or limit the number of subscribers they sign up. […]
Iridium, already a popular satellite system and in favour with military and first responders, says it will begin testing its satellite direct-to-device (D2D) service this summer with Norway’s Nordic Semiconductor. How long it will take before Iridium’s L-band D2D narrowband solution – which starts with just texting – will be integrated into chipsets for mobile […]
Satellite communications specialist Viasat has successfully performed what it say is the first successful direct-to-handset (D2H) communication test using direct-to-device (D2D) technology in L-band in Brazil. The demonstration showcased two smartphones connecting directly via satellite using 3GPP NTN standards without the involvement of other terrestrial infrastructure. According to Viasat, his signifies the start of a […]
UK media regulator Ofcom has published proposals for enabling MNOs to use their spectrum for direct to device (D2D) services, in partnership with satellite providers. The proposals are open for consultation and it expects responses in by May 20th. That timeframe suggests Ofcom expects to move pretty quickly on this one. “People in the UK […]
Iridium already supplies satellite-based telephony to the armed forces, first responders and some key non-governmental organisations. The company says it now expects to start Direct-To-Device (D2D) satellite-phone calls in 2026. Iridium made the comments during its 2024 full year results (total revenue in 2024 of $830.7 million (€792.8m), which was up 5 per cent from […]