Commercial satellite-to-phone connectivity comes down to Earth as 5G-Advanced non-terrestrial networks go mainstream, finally filling the last coverage gaps on the planet.

From coverage maps to coverage everywhere

For two decades, mobile operators have drawn increasingly dense coverage maps, yet the “not-spots” have stubbornly remained: mountain valleys, offshore platforms, rural villages, disaster zones and shipping lanes. In 2026, those blank areas start disappearing as 5G-Advanced non-terrestrial networks move from niche pilots to commercial, mass-market services. 3GPP Release 18, branded as 5G-Advanced, formalizes enhancements for non-terrestrial networks (NTN), extending 5G New Radio operation to low Earth orbit (LEO) and other satellite systems so that standard smartphones can connect directly to satellites. 3GPP

The result is a subtle but profound shift in how connectivity is delivered. Instead of relying solely on steel towers bolted to the ground, operators can treat satellites as a roaming layer in the sky. Standards-based NTN support for handheld devices, introduced in Release 17 and enhanced in Release 18, adds better uplink coverage for commercial smartphones and improved mobility and location-verification across space and ground segments. 3GPP

Direct-to-device satellites leave the lab

In 2025, the industry crossed an important threshold: multiple successful trials demonstrated full 5G links from space. Eutelsat, working with OneWeb’s LEO constellation, Airbus, MediaTek and others, reported what it called the world’s first 5G NTN trial using OneWeb satellites, as part of the European Union’s IRIS² secure connectivity program. Reuters A few months later, Starlink signed a landmark direct-to-cell partnership with Veon, promising satellite-to-smartphone connectivity across markets such as Ukraine and Kazakhstan starting in late 2025 and continuing into 2026. Reuters

These real-world deals, layered on top of maturing standards, signal that satellite-based 5G is no longer a speculative side project. Vendors like Cisco, Keysight and others now publish detailed roadmaps describing how Release 17 and 18 NTN profiles will be implemented in LEO constellations and smartphone chipsets, particularly in L- and S-bands and extending into Ku and Ka bands for higher-capacity services. Cisco+2Keysight

Business models for a hybrid sky–ground network

The emerging commercial landscape is eclectic. Some players, like Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, own both infrastructure and retail relationships. Others, including Lynk Global and OQ Technology, concentrate on satellite-to-phone or satellite-to-IoT connectivity and partner with mobile network operators on the ground. Wikipedia Meanwhile, traditional satellite operators work to reposition themselves in the NTN ecosystem through European programs such as IRIS² and via wholesale agreements with terrestrial carriers. Reuters+1

For mobile operators, the NTN opportunity is as much about brand and regulation as it is about technology. Many regulators are pressing for universal service obligations, while governments seek resilient backup communications for emergencies and defense. GSMA analysis notes three main tracks emerging: 3GPP-compliant NTN integrated with operators, proprietary satellite networks that interwork with mobile devices, and hybrid models blending both. GSMA

Real-world use cases: from SOS messages to industrial IoT

In the near term, the most visible services will be basic messaging, voice and emergency connectivity for people outside terrestrial coverage. Release 17 and 18 NTN profiles focus on lower-data-rate services that can work with constrained smartphone antennas and variable satellite link budgets. Cisco Consumers may initially experience satellite 5G as a “no signal doesn’t mean no service” feature, where phones seamlessly fall back to a space-based layer for SOS calls, text messages or low-bandwidth apps.

Behind the scenes, NTN will quietly power many machine-type interfaces. Low-power IoT devices mounted on freight containers, oil pipelines, agricultural equipment or remote sensors can use NTN links for status updates, telemetry and alerts without requiring local terrestrial coverage. Whitepapers from 5G Americas and others highlight use cases from maritime tracking and precision agriculture to environmental monitoring, all enabled by standards-based NTN. 5G Americas+2accelercomm.com

Technical and regulatory hurdles still ahead

Despite the momentum, space-based 5G is not a solved problem. NTN introduces challenging Doppler shifts, long and variable round-trip times and stringent power constraints at the handset. Release 18 includes coverage enhancements such as uplink repetition and improved DMRS bundling for NR NTN to cope with these realities, but equipment vendors still need to optimize RF front-ends and antennas for consumer devices that must work on the ground and in the sky. 3GPP

Spectrum is another flashpoint. The L-, S-, Ku- and Ka-bands now under consideration for NTN must coexist with legacy satellite services, terrestrial 5G and competing national spectrum policies. Intelsat and other incumbents argue that Ku-band’s existing ecosystem offers a faster path to scale than Ka-band alone, while 3GPP and regulators try to harmonize allocations to keep device complexity manageable. Intelsat

Closing thoughts and looking forward

By 2026, space-based 5G is still a supplement rather than a replacement for terrestrial networks, but its strategic importance is hard to overstate. 5G-Advanced’s NTN features transform satellites from isolated systems into first-class citizens of the mobile ecosystem, unlocking new consumer services, industrial IoT applications and national connectivity strategies. The move to standards-based, direct-to-device satellite links also opens a larger competitive field, enabling operators, satellite firms and hyperscalers to experiment with new business models that blend coverage, cloud and content.

Over the rest of the decade, the real measure of success will not simply be how many satellites are launched, but how neatly NTN integrates into everyday user experience. If 5G-Advanced delivers on its promise, a smartphone in 2028 will treat the sky as just another part of the network, roaming seamlessly from local small cell to LEO beams without the user ever noticing.

References

 Release 18 – 3GPP, overview of 5G-Advanced and key enhancements including NTN features. https://www.3gpp.org/specifications-technologies/releases/release-18

Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) – 3GPP technology overview covering Release 18 NR NTN enhancements. https://www.3gpp.org/technologies/ntn-overview

Update on 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks – 5G Americas briefing paper on standards, Release 18 enhancements and service opportunities. https://www.5gamericas.org/update-on-5g-non-terrestrial-networks

Reference 4: 6 Key Takeaways on 5G Satellite Direct-to-Device – AccelerComm analysis of the D2D NTN market and standards roadmap. https://www.accelercomm.com/insights/6-key-takeaways-on-5g-satellite-direct-to-device

Starlink signs landmark global direct-to-cell deal with Veon as satellite-to-phone race heats up – Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/starlink-signs-landmark-global-direct-to-cell-deal-with-veon-satellite-to-phone-2025-11-06/

Jing Zang, Mobile Technology, Montreal, Quebec.
Peter Jonathan Wilcheck, Co-Editor, Miami, Florida.

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