Smartphone Hardware Bringing Satellite Connectivity Closer to the Mainstream

The expansion of satellite capability is creating new requirements across the handset architecture. Modems, antennas, software and network provisioning must work together before a smartphone can reliably use satellite connectivity. Smartphone Ecosystems are therefore becoming an important part of the wider satellite and mobile convergence story. The emerging hardware direction includes:

• NTN capable modem platforms integrated into consumer devices.
• Antenna systems designed to support satellite links alongside terrestrial connectivity.
• Device software capable of recognising and managing satellite network availability.
• Operator and service provisioning that determines which satellite capabilities a device can access.

Qualcomm’s 2026 X105 5G Modem RF platform illustrates this direction by integrating standards based Non Terrestrial Network capability into a modem platform designed for consumer devices. At the operating system level, Android has also introduced satellite support into its telephony framework, showing that the transition extends beyond hardware alone.

Operating Systems and Operators Expanding the Device Layer

Satellite functionality increasingly depends on coordination between handset software and mobile network services. Smartphone Ecosystems must account for network selection, service entitlement and device configuration alongside the underlying satellite radio connection. This makes the smartphone a more active participant in managing the transition between terrestrial and satellite access. The ecosystem is broadening through several developments:

• Operating systems are adding frameworks for satellite communication and network management.
• Chipset vendors are integrating NTN capabilities into newer modem platforms.
• Smartphone manufacturers are introducing satellite support across selected device ranges.
• Mobile operators and satellite providers are developing service arrangements around compatible handsets.

Smartphone Hardware and Software Building a Broader Satellite Stack

The transition toward satellite connected handsets is extending beyond modem capability into the wider device architecture. Smartphone Ecosystems now involve coordination between chipset vendors, operating system developers, handset manufacturers, mobile operators and satellite providers. This creates multiple dependencies that must work together before satellite connectivity can become a reliable part of everyday mobile service. Android 15 and later provides platform support for satellite connectivity, including emergency services, messaging, location sharing and constrained data routing. Its satellite telephony stack interacts with the device modem through a standardised hardware interface, while network configuration can also be managed through carrier settings and GSMA service entitlement mechanisms. This shows that satellite access is becoming embedded deeper into the operating system and network management layers. The ecosystem requirements increasingly include:

• NTN capable modem platforms and compatible radio hardware.
• Antenna performance suitable for satellite links.
• Operating system support for satellite network selection and routing.
• Service entitlement and operator provisioning.
• Device certification and interoperability testing.

Qualcomm’s 2026 X105 5G Modem RF platform further illustrates the hardware direction, integrating standards based NTN capability into a modem platform intended for consumer devices. The development indicates that satellite connectivity is increasingly being incorporated into mainstream modem roadmaps rather than remaining a specialised device function.

Multiple Device Makers Expanding the Emerging Satellite Market

The handset market is also becoming more diverse. Counterpoint Research reported that more than 10 smartphone brands were offering satellite connectivity by April 2026, while the market remained concentrated among premium devices. Smartphone Ecosystems are therefore expanding, but adoption is developing unevenly across manufacturers and price segments. Counterpoint’s 2025 shipment data shows the early market concentration:

• Apple accounted for 71.6% of satellite capable smartphone shipments.
• Samsung represented 15.9%.
• Huawei accounted for 6.1%.
• Google represented 2.2%.
• HONOR accounted for 1.9%.

Counterpoint also identifies Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, HONOR and vivo among Android manufacturers aligning with 3GPP NTN approaches, while Apple, Huawei and Google have largely used proprietary satellite systems. The distinction matters because proprietary architectures can support tightly integrated services earlier, while standards based approaches are intended to support broader interoperability and scale. Smartphone Ecosystems are consequently developing along two paths: proprietary satellite implementations that already support selected services and standards based NTN systems designed to connect more devices and networks through common technical frameworks. The distribution shows that satellite capable smartphone shipments were concentrated among a small group of manufacturers in 2025, while the wider OEM ecosystem was beginning to expand.

Smartphone Ecosystems Broadening the Satellite Connectivity Layer

Satellite functionality is becoming increasingly embedded across the handset hardware, software and service stack. Smartphone Ecosystems are moving beyond isolated satellite features toward broader interoperability between devices, operators and satellite networks, although proprietary and standards based approaches are still developing in parallel.The direction is becoming clearer:

• Modem and antenna capabilities are bringing satellite connectivity into mainstream device architectures.
• Operating system support is integrating satellite functions into wider mobile software frameworks.
• Expanding device participation is creating a broader base for satellite enabled services.

As satellite capabilities mature across smartphones, the next opportunity extends beyond consumer handsets toward enterprise satellite connectivity, where satellite links can support organisations operating across remote and mobile environments.

References

1. Counterpoint Research – Smartphones With Satellite Connectivity to Reach 46 Percent of Global Shipments by 2030 – 2026
2. Android Open Source Project – Satellite connectivity – 2026
3. Qualcomm – Qualcomm Announces 5G Advanced Leap with Qualcomm X105 5G Modem RF – 2026

• Messaging and emergency communication remain among the most practical early applications.
• Enterprise services can use satellite connectivity for remote operations and network resilience.
• Internet of Things (IoT) deployments can use satellite access for monitoring assets beyond terrestrial coverage.
• Automotive and wearable devices can extend communication and safety functions into areas with limited cellular access.

Consumer and Enterprise Models Expanding Around Satellite Connectivity

The development of satellite services is also creating different commercial models for operators and service providers. Satellite connectivity can be incorporated into existing mobile plans, offered as a premium capability or delivered as an enterprise service for organisations operating across remote or geographically dispersed locations. This allows the same underlying network infrastructure to support different applications without limiting satellite connectivity to a single market.

• Consumer services can add satellite messaging or emergency communication to existing mobile offerings.
• Enterprise services can provide an additional connectivity path for business continuity and remote operations.
• IoT services can use satellite networks for asset tracking, monitoring and periodic data transmission.
• Network platforms can increasingly coordinate terrestrial and satellite access as complementary connectivity layers.

The development of satellite services therefore points toward a telecom market in which satellite connectivity becomes embedded within broader communications offerings. Rather than being visible to users as a separate technology, satellite access can increasingly operate as another network capability supporting different services, devices and applications.

Service Models Expanding Across Consumer and Enterprise Networks

The development of satellite services is creating several paths for telecom providers to extend connectivity beyond conventional terrestrial networks. Consumer offerings can incorporate satellite messaging and emergency communication into existing mobile plans, while enterprise services can use satellite as an additional layer for remote operations, backup connectivity and business continuity. The distinction between the underlying network and the service delivered to the customer is becoming increasingly important as satellite access is incorporated into broader telecom platforms.

• Mobile operators can bundle satellite messaging and emergency communication with existing mobile services.
• Enterprise connectivity can use satellite as a supplementary path for remote or disrupted terrestrial networks.
• Internet of Things (IoT) services can use satellite connectivity for asset tracking and remote monitoring.
• Automotive and wearable applications can add communication and safety capabilities beyond terrestrial coverage.

API-Driven Connectivity Creating More Flexible Service Models

Beyond conventional customer plans, satellite services are also being explored through more flexible network models. Work linking non-terrestrial networks with GSMA Open Gateway application programming interfaces (APIs) has demonstrated how satellite bandwidth could be requested dynamically by applications. This could allow organisations to use satellite connectivity when and where it is required rather than maintaining a permanently active satellite connection. Such approaches remain at an emerging stage, but they point toward satellite becoming a configurable network resource within wider digital services.

• Application-driven access could make satellite capacity available according to operational requirements.
• Enterprise platforms could combine terrestrial and satellite connectivity based on coverage conditions.
• IoT applications could request satellite access for remote monitoring and geographically dispersed assets.
• Emergency-response services could use dynamically available connectivity when terrestrial infrastructure is disrupted.

The broader development of satellite services will depend on how effectively operators, satellite providers and technology vendors combine network access with existing service platforms. Interoperability, device compatibility, spectrum availability and commercial agreements will determine which models can move from demonstrations and partnerships into scalable services.

• Cellular IoT hardware can support terrestrial connectivity while gaining access to satellite networks where supported.
• Asset tracking can benefit from wider geographic coverage for equipment, freight and remote assets.
• Agriculture and environmental monitoring can use satellite links where terrestrial coverage is inconsistent.
• Utility infrastructure can maintain communication across dispersed or difficult-to-reach locations.

Hybrid Connectivity Supporting Remote IoT Deployments

The value of connected devices increasingly lies in their ability to remain reachable rather than in maintaining a constant high-bandwidth connection. Many IoT applications transmit limited amounts of location, status or sensor information at intervals, making satellite a potential complement to terrestrial cellular networks. The combination can allow a device to use terrestrial connectivity where it is readily available and rely on satellite access when it moves outside conventional coverage.

• Hybrid connectivity can reduce gaps in coverage for geographically distributed assets.
• Low-power IoT designs are suited to applications where devices may operate for long periods without maintenance.
• A single connectivity platform can simplify management across different coverage environments.
• Satellite access can extend visibility for assets operating in rural, offshore or otherwise remote areas.

As connected devices become more capable of switching between terrestrial and satellite access, the focus is shifting from isolated demonstrations toward practical hybrid deployments. The next challenge is applying this wider reach to the equipment, services and operating models that will define everyday satellite connectivity. The visual illustrates how cellular IoT devices can use satellite connectivity as an additional network path when terrestrial coverage is unavailable.

Hybrid Connectivity Supporting Remote IoT Deployments

The expansion of connected devices into satellite networks is creating a hybrid connectivity model in which terrestrial cellular networks remain the primary access layer while satellite provides an additional path beyond conventional coverage. This is particularly relevant for Internet of Things (IoT) deployments, where devices may be distributed across farms, transport routes, utility networks or remote infrastructure. Instead of designing separate hardware and connectivity systems for different coverage environments, organisations can increasingly use devices capable of working across both network types.

• Terrestrial networks can handle routine connectivity where coverage is available.
• Satellite can provide an additional link when devices move beyond terrestrial coverage.
• Low-data applications can make satellite connectivity practical for remote monitoring.
• Hybrid connectivity can extend the geographic reach of existing IoT deployments.

Low-Power Devices Expanding Satellite IoT Applications

For connected devices, power consumption and hardware simplicity remain important because many IoT endpoints operate for long periods without physical maintenance. Satellite connectivity therefore needs to work within the constraints of low-power cellular technologies rather than requiring the capabilities of a conventional broadband terminal. Developments around Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) are supporting this direction, while commercial initiatives are exploring single connectivity arrangements across terrestrial and satellite networks.

• Asset trackers can transmit location and status information from areas with limited cellular coverage.
• Agricultural sensors can communicate from remote fields and livestock operations.
• Utility and infrastructure equipment can remain connected across geographically dispersed sites.
• Environmental sensors can send periodic measurements without requiring continuous high-bandwidth access.

Vodafone IoT and Skylo’s hybrid satellite-cellular approach demonstrates how this model can extend into existing IoT platforms, including the use of a single Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) for cellular and satellite connectivity. The broader objective is to make satellite another network path within an existing device and connectivity environment rather than creating a completely separate satellite ecosystem.

The matrix shows how satellite can be different from terrestrial connectivity across different low-data IoT metrics.

• Satellite networks are being incorporated into established mobile roaming frameworks.
• New classifications can distinguish satellite and space-based networks from conventional visited networks.
• Roaming frameworks are beginning to account for different forms of network participation.
• The mobile operator can remain central to the subscriber relationship.

Roaming Frameworks Adapting to Satellite Networks

The development of satellite roaming involves more than allowing a device to establish a connection with a satellite. Operators need mechanisms for identifying participating networks, exchanging technical and operational information, managing subscriber access and determining which services a device is entitled to use. Recent GSMA framework updates include a dedicated satellite and space-based network classification, while also accounting for inbound-only roaming operators. These changes indicate that established mobile roaming infrastructure is being adapted for a more diverse set of network providers.

• Network identification needs to account for satellite and space-based networks.
• Roaming data must support relationships between different types of network operators.
• Device entitlement can determine whether compatible equipment is authorised to access NTN services.
• Charging, settlement and commercial agreements remain important parts of the roaming model.

For subscribers, the objective is ultimately a simpler experience: when terrestrial coverage disappears, an eligible device can obtain service through a satellite network while remaining connected to its existing mobile service relationship. That transition still depends on regulation, agreements, device compatibility and network integration, but satellite roaming is becoming an important part of the infrastructure needed to make this model possible.

Roaming Data Bringing Satellite Networks into Mobile Systems

The development of satellite roaming is requiring established mobile roaming processes to accommodate a wider range of network types. The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Association (GSMA) has updated its International Roaming Industry Specification Number 21 (IR.21) and Roaming Agreement Exchange (RAEX) framework to include satellite and space-based networks more explicitly. This gives operators a more structured way to exchange information about networks that may participate in roaming arrangements.

• Satellite and space-based networks can now be identified more specifically within roaming information.
• The framework includes a dedicated “Satellite/Space” network classification.
• Coverage information can be represented using a “Global” option where applicable.
• The updated approach also accounts for inbound-only roaming operators.

Device Entitlement Supporting Access Across Network Types

For satellite roaming to work from the subscriber’s perspective, network-side roaming arrangements need to be matched by device-side authorisation. An eligible handset must be able to identify and access an approved non-terrestrial network while retaining the appropriate relationship with its home mobile operator. GSMA’s work on device entitlement provides mechanisms for identifying non-terrestrial networks and determining whether a device is authorised to use their services.

• Entitlement systems can help determine whether a device is eligible for satellite connectivity.
• Network identification can help devices distinguish satellite access from terrestrial mobile networks.
• Standardised application programming interfaces (APIs) can support communication between devices and entitlement systems.
• Operator-controlled service policies can determine when and how satellite access becomes available.

Commercial Roaming Extending Beyond Network Authentication

The technical ability to recognise a satellite network is only one part of satellite roaming. Operators also need commercial and operational arrangements covering service access, charging, settlement and network coordination. This makes satellite roaming a broader interoperability process involving mobile operators, satellite providers and supporting roaming platforms. The long-term objective is to make satellite access function more like an additional network option within the mobile ecosystem, while still maintaining the commercial and regulatory controls associated with roaming.

• Roaming agreements need to define responsibilities between participating networks.
• Charging and settlement mechanisms must reflect the services delivered through satellite access.
• Network information needs to remain consistent as satellite coverage and participating providers change.
• Interoperability can reduce friction as more satellite and terrestrial networks enter the roaming ecosystem.

The process shows how satellite networks are being incorporated into the operational, technical and commercial structures that support mobile roaming. As these frameworks mature, the next challenge is enabling connected devices switching between terrestrial and satellite networks.

• Satellite can extend connectivity beyond the practical reach of terrestrial infrastructure.
• Messaging and emergency communication are among the earliest commercial applications.
• Operators are progressing from trials and partnerships toward customer-facing services.
• Satellite is generally being positioned as a complementary layer rather than a replacement for terrestrial networks.

Satellite Moving into the Operator Service Portfolio

For mobile operators, the next stage involves integrating satellite capabilities more closely with existing network and customer systems. This can include mobile plans, subscriber management, device provisioning and service entitlements, allowing customers to access satellite connectivity through an operator relationship rather than through an entirely separate service. Orange, T-Mobile and other operators illustrate different stages of this development, from satellite messaging to broader direct-to-device service strategies.

• Satellite connectivity can become an additional feature within existing mobile service portfolios.
• Integration with operator infrastructure can create a more consistent customer experience.
• Voice and data services are developing alongside established messaging use cases.
• Enterprise and public-sector connectivity can expand the role of satellite beyond consumer services.

As mobile operators deepen their involvement, the focus is moving toward how satellite access can be managed alongside terrestrial connectivity as part of a broader network service. This creates a foundation for wider service integration, including roaming across satellite and mobile networks.

Integrating Satellite Access with Existing Mobile Networks

The expansion of mobile operators into satellite services increasingly depends on how closely the satellite layer can be connected with existing mobile infrastructure. Rather than creating a completely separate service environment, operators can link satellite access with their mobile core, subscriber management, device provisioning and service platforms. This allows satellite connectivity to fit more naturally into the systems already used to authenticate customers, manage plans and deliver network services.

• Mobile core integration can help coordinate satellite and terrestrial access within the same service environment.
• Subscriber and entitlement systems can determine when compatible devices can use satellite connectivity.
• SIM and eSIM capabilities can support service activation across different network access layers.
• Network management becomes important when devices move between terrestrial and satellite coverage.

Satellite Services Expanding Beyond Coverage Gaps

For mobile operators, satellite connectivity is also becoming relevant to the wider portfolio of services offered to customers and businesses. Initial deployments have largely focused on messaging and emergency communication, but developing direct-to-device capabilities could support broader voice and data applications. This creates opportunities to extend connectivity to remote locations while maintaining the operator as the primary service relationship.

• Consumer services can provide communication when terrestrial coverage is unavailable.
• Enterprise applications can use satellite connectivity for remote operations and business continuity.
• Public-sector and emergency use cases can benefit from an additional communications layer.
• Network resilience can improve when satellite access provides an alternative path during terrestrial disruptions.

The commercial models remain varied. Some mobile operators are launching satellite-enabled services, while others are still testing technologies or establishing partnerships. This difference reflects the varying availability of spectrum, compatible devices, satellite capacity and regulatory approvals across markets. As these services become more integrated with existing mobile offerings, satellite roaming across mobile services. The progression illustrates how satellite connectivity is moving from external partnerships toward integration within the broader mobile service model.

Satellite Becoming Part of Mainstream Mobile Services

For mobile operators, satellite connectivity is moving from experimental partnerships toward a broader role within network service portfolios. The combination of direct-to-device technology, operator infrastructure and compatible devices can extend coverage while maintaining existing customer relationships and service systems. However, adoption will remain dependent on spectrum availability, regulation, satellite capacity, device support and the depth of integration with terrestrial networks. The next stage will be less about simply adding satellite coverage and more about managing satellite and terrestrial access as connected parts of the same service environment.

References

1. GSMA – Scaling Satellite Connectivity: Why Interoperability Matters for NTN’s Next Phase – 2026
2. Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) – 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) – 2026
3. GSMA – Satellite Direct-to-Device (D2D) – 2026
4. Orange – Direct-to-Device Satellite Connectivity Partnerships – 2026
5. T-Mobile – T-Satellite – 2026

• Release 17 established the foundation for New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks (NR-NTN) and IoT-NTN.
• The release supports satellite-based 5G New Radio and low-power IoT technologies.
• Transparent satellite payloads are supported across geostationary and non-geostationary configurations.
• The framework created a baseline for integrating satellite links with the wider 5G architecture.

Releases Extending Satellite-Mobile Network Capabilities

The role of 3GPP standards extends beyond the radio interface, covering areas such as network architecture, radio requirements, device capability signalling and conformance. Release 18 continued the NTN work with additional enhancements, while Release 19 is broadening the technology toward improved downlink coverage and uplink capacity, broadcast services and support for half-duplex devices, including reduced-capability equipment. Release 19 also advances regenerative payload architectures, where elements of the radio access network can be placed onboard the satellite.

• Release 19 addresses downlink coverage and uplink capacity improvements.
• Broadcast capabilities expand the potential uses of satellite links beyond direct device connections.
• Half-duplex, RedCap and eRedCap devices broaden the range of equipment that can support NTN.
• Regenerative payload support creates additional architectural options for satellite-mobile networks.

The progression of 3GPP standards reflects a shift from demonstrating that satellite links can connect devices toward defining how those links can operate as part of mainstream mobile infrastructure. Common specifications can support greater reuse of device and network technologies, although commercial interoperability will still depend on spectrum access, licensing, satellite capacity, network agreements and device capabilities. The timeline shows how successive releases are expanding the technical foundation for integrating satellite links into mobile networks.

Release 19 Expanding the Capabilities of Satellite-Mobile Networks

The development of 3GPP standards is moving beyond the initial NTN foundation established in Release 17. Release 18 introduced further enhancements, while Release 19 is broadening the range of satellite-mobile capabilities being addressed through the standards process. The work includes improvements to downlink coverage and uplink capacity, along with support for broadcast services and half-duplex user equipment, including RedCap and eRedCap devices. These developments are important because satellite networks face different propagation conditions, coverage patterns and capacity constraints from terrestrial cellular systems. Improving how mobile devices and networks handle those conditions can make satellite access more practical across a wider range of applications and device categories.

Release 19 Extending NTN Performance and Device Support

Current Release 19 work is addressing several areas that could strengthen the integration of satellite links into mainstream mobile architectures:

• Downlink coverage improvements can help extend usable service areas and improve the consistency of satellite-based mobile connectivity.
• Uplink capacity enhancements address the ability of devices to transmit information efficiently over satellite links, an important consideration as services move beyond basic messaging.
• Broadcast support opens additional possibilities for distributing information over wide satellite footprints rather than relying exclusively on one-to-one connections.
• Half-duplex and reduced-capability devices extend NTN support toward equipment with different power, cost and hardware requirements.

The scope of 3GPP standards is therefore expanding from basic connectivity support toward a broader set of operating requirements for different satellite and terrestrial network configurations.

Regenerative Architectures Bringing Network Functions Closer to Orbit

Another significant area in Release 19 is support for regenerative payload architectures. Unlike transparent payloads, regenerative satellites can incorporate network functions onboard the spacecraft, including elements associated with the radio access network. This approach can change how traffic is processed between the satellite and terrestrial infrastructure. It may reduce dependence on some ground-based functions and create additional architectural options for satellite-mobile networks, although the practical benefits will depend on constellation design, spectrum, gateway infrastructure and network deployment models.

• Regenerative architectures can provide greater flexibility in how satellite traffic is processed and routed.
• Standards-based support can give equipment and satellite developers a clearer framework for building interoperable implementations.

Qualcomm’s X105 5G Modem-RF platform provides an example of how 3GPP standards are moving into commercial silicon, with support for Release 19-ready 5G NR-NTN capabilities. Such implementations indicate that standards development is increasingly being translated into device and network technologies rather than remaining confined to specifications. The matrix highlights how Release 19 is expanding NTN from foundational satellite connectivity toward broader network, device and architectural capabilities.

Gateways Connecting Space and Terrestrial Network Functions

The role of ground systems extends beyond receiving signals from satellites. They provide the physical and network interfaces through which satellite traffic can reach terrestrial radio and core-network infrastructure. This makes the ground segment a critical part of how satellite connectivity can be integrated into existing telecom environments. The main functions include:

• Traffic transfer: Moving communications between satellite payloads and terrestrial network infrastructure through feeder links and gateways.
• Network integration: Connecting satellite traffic with radio access, core-network and enterprise connectivity functions.
• Service continuity: Supporting the transition between satellite and terrestrial access paths where hybrid connectivity is required.

As satellite services become more closely aligned with mobile networks, ground systems also have to become more flexible. Fixed gateway infrastructure alone may not be sufficient for services that require changing traffic patterns, multiple satellite links or closer integration with cloud-based network functions.

Ground Infrastructure Moving Toward Greater Flexibility

The emerging architecture is therefore becoming increasingly software-driven. European Space Agency (ESA) research, including its MiRAGE project, is examining cloud-native ground infrastructure in which virtualised Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5G Core functions can work alongside satellite connectivity. This points toward a model where computing, network orchestration and resource allocation become part of the ground segment itself. The priorities are expanding accordingly:

• Scalability: Infrastructure must support additional satellite capacity and growing numbers of connected devices.
• Interoperability: Satellite components need to communicate with terrestrial network functions and different technology environments.
• Automation: Network resources increasingly need to be managed dynamically as traffic and satellite conditions change.

The result is a gradual shift in which the ground segment becomes less of a supporting satellite facility and more of an active part of the telecom network.

Cloud-Native Ground Infrastructure Supporting Mobile Integration

As satellite networks become more closely integrated with terrestrial mobile services, ground systems are taking on functions that extend beyond traditional satellite gateways. The ground segment increasingly has to connect satellite traffic with Radio Access Network (RAN) functions, 5G Core infrastructure, cloud resources and enterprise systems. This creates a more flexible architecture in which satellite connectivity can be managed as part of a wider communications network. The European Space Agency (ESA) is examining this direction through projects such as MiRAGE, which is developing a cloud-native ground segment for 5G services over Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). Its architecture includes virtualised RAN and selected 5G Core functions, alongside dynamic resource allocation and adaptations for satellite-specific network conditions. The development points toward a model in which software and computing become as important to the ground segment as physical gateway infrastructure. The priorities are therefore expanding:

• Virtualisation: Network functions can run on shared computing infrastructure rather than relying entirely on dedicated hardware.
• Resource management: Capacity and network functions can be adjusted as satellite availability, traffic and service requirements change.
• Scalability: Cloud-based infrastructure can provide a more flexible foundation as satellite services expand across operators and applications.

Gateways Integrating Satellite Traffic with Terrestrial Networks

The role of ground systems also extends into interoperability. A gateway has to connect the satellite segment with the appropriate terrestrial network functions while maintaining routing, security and service continuity. This becomes more complex when several satellite systems, mobile operators or network technologies are involved. A standards-based architecture can be viewed through the following sequence:

• User equipment: Communicates with the satellite through the service link.
• Satellite payload: Transfers traffic toward the ground through a feeder link.
• NTN gateway: Provides the bridge into terrestrial network infrastructure.
• RAN and 5G Core: Process and route traffic into mobile or enterprise services.

This architecture makes ground systems central to the convergence of space and terrestrial networks. The industry is also exploring shared infrastructure models: the Space42 and Viasat Equatys initiative, for example, is designed around shared space-and-ground infrastructure for satellite-enabled mobile connectivity. Such models indicate that gateways and supporting infrastructure could increasingly become shared network assets rather than being duplicated by every satellite operator. That raises a broader interoperability challenge. Ground infrastructure must support different satellite architectures while connecting into established mobile environments, making 3GPP standards for satellite-mobile integration an important next layer in the development. The architecture demonstrates how satellite traffic is transferred through the ground segment into established terrestrial mobile-network functions.

Ground Integration Becoming Central to Satellite-Mobility Convergence

The growing integration of satellite and terrestrial networks is making the ground segment a strategic part of telecom architecture. Gateways, feeder links, virtualised network functions and terrestrial connections determine how effectively satellite capacity can enter existing mobile and enterprise environments. The development is therefore shifting attention from orbital coverage alone toward the infrastructure required to make satellite services interoperable and scalable. The priorities are increasingly centred on:

• Integration: Connecting satellite traffic with established Radio Access Network (RAN), 5G Core and enterprise infrastructure.
• Flexibility: Using virtualised and cloud-native functions to adapt capacity and network resources.
• Interoperability: Enabling different satellite and terrestrial systems to operate within a broader communications ecosystem.

Ground systems will therefore become increasingly important to the commercial development of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), particularly as operators move toward more integrated satellite-mobile services. The next stage of the series can examine the standards work that defines how those satellite links and terrestrial networks communicate.

References

1. International Telecommunication Union – Recommendation ITU-R M.2177-0: Detailed specifications of the satellite radio interfaces of International Mobile Telecommunications-2020 (IMT-2020) – 2026 Pasted markdown(8)
2. European Space Agency – MiRAGE: 5G Satellite Communications with a Cloud-Native Ground Segment – 2026
3. GSMA – GSMA Foundry and ESA Announce Access to New Funding Worth Up to €100m for AI, NTN, D2D and 6G – 2026
4. Viasat – Space42 and Viasat Sign Binding Agreement to Co-Found Equatys – 2026

The shift is important because the global connectivity gap is increasingly geographical rather than simply population based. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reported in April 2026 that mobile services covered about 96% of the world’s population but only around 20% of its landmass.

Terrestrial Networks Leaving Difficult Geographies Behind

The difference between population reach and geographical reach explains where satellite coverage can add the most value. Remote mountains, deserts, oceans, isolated islands and sparsely populated regions can require infrastructure investments that are difficult to justify against limited subscriber density. Satellite links can provide an additional path to users without requiring every coverage gap to be filled through new terrestrial sites. The strongest near term applications are emerging around locations where conventional networks have clear physical or economic limitations:

• Remote communities where tower deployment and backhaul remain difficult
• Maritime and offshore areas outside conventional mobile footprints
• Disaster affected locations where terrestrial infrastructure has been damaged
• Remote transport routes and industrial areas with limited network infrastructure

This does not make satellites a substitute for terrestrial networks. Their role is instead shaped by where terrestrial infrastructure becomes difficult to deploy or maintain.

Mobile Operators Building a Broader Access Layer

The industry is already moving from isolated demonstrations toward commercial integration. The Global mobile Suppliers Association reported in August 2026 that 283 operator satellite partnerships had been announced across more than 100 countries and territories, including 123 publicly announced satellite to cellphone partnerships. Twenty three of those partnerships had launched services by June 2026. That activity suggests operators increasingly view satellite connectivity as part of a broader network architecture rather than a standalone service. At the same time, capacity remains a constraint. GSMA notes that satellite beams cover much larger areas than terrestrial cells, limiting the amount of capacity available within a given geographic area. That makes satellite coverage particularly suited to extending reach rather than replacing dense terrestrial networks. The next stage of this development will depend on how operators coordinate satellite access with terrestrial infrastructure, including shared spectrum between satellite and mobile networks, which will increasingly influence how these systems coexist.