2026-04-17

Satellite D2D moving into the mainstream for mobile players – GSA

Direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity generated considerable excitement at last month's Mobile World Congress with a plethora of announcements from operators. (See Orange among first partners for Vodafone, AST satellite JV; Eurobites: Deutsche Telekom goes with Starlink for satellite fill-in.) Mobile operators are teaming up with satellite players in their droves, both for mobile broadband connectivity and increasingly D2D services, in order to extend the reach of their 5G networks to far-flung corners of the world. According to a recent overview of the 5G market by the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), this trend is only set to grow. In the meantime, 5G New Radio (NR) non-terrestrial network (NTN) standards are also evolving to support a standardized approach to integrated 5G and satellite service offerings. During a webinar titled "GSA Snapshot: 5G networks, spectrum & devices," Joe Gardiner, market analyst at CCS Insight and a member of the GSA research team, said GSA figures to March 31 show that 97 operators in 70 countries have announced they are investing in satellite D2D technology. More partnerships have been unveiled subsequently, including in Japan (SoftBank and Starlink) and Costa Rica (Starlink with Liberty Costa Rica and Kölbi). "There's a lot of interest in this area, but there's also a lot of interest and movement towards 3GPP standards, and the convergence of the terrestrial and the non-terrestrial standards map" starting with 3GPP Release 17, Gardiner observed. He pointed in particular to Skylo, which is following a standards-based approach and already has D2D partnerships with operators such as Orange in France, Verizon and Vodafone IoT. (See Orange set to claim European satellite first; Skylo's trajectory toward the 'standardized sky' looks to include multiple orbits; MWC2026: Skylo makes universal connectivity a reality; Vodafone IoT teams with Skylo for satellite connectivity.) "Other players are [also] looking to use the standards-based approach, and looking to purchase the spectrum that's compatible with the standards," Gardiner said. He pointed here to the recent announcement by Amazon that it has signed a deal to acquire satellite specialist Globalstar, and "part of the reason that took place was because of the spectrum assets that Globalstar has." (See Amazon nets Globalstar for $11.5B, signs new Apple pact.) Gardiner added that a "lot of trials are taking place that are looking at the next stage of the standards, Release 18 with 5G NR NTN services." For instance, he referenced the trial announced by the European Space Agency (ESA), together with Airbus Defence and Space, Eutelsat OneWeb, and industry partners in November 2025. In addition, Spain's Sateliot is following the standards-based approach and has launched a Series C financing round to raise €100 million (US$117 million) to help fund the deployment its IoT-focused 5G satellite constellation. (See Eurobites: Sateliot seeks €100M in Series C funding for space-based 5G push.) "We expect more trials like this to take place over the next few months and years," Gardiner said. He also noted that there is a "movement towards using mobile satellite services (MSS) spectrum," although the drawback with this spectrum is the current lack of compatible mobile devices on the market. 5G advancing at pace Meanwhile, Ian Fogg, a research director at CCS Insight, who also works within the research team at the GSA, provided a brief overview of 5G developments to date, including the ongoing move towards 5G standalone (SA) and 5G Advanced networks.

2026-04-13

Amazon CEO Targets Mid-2026 Launch for Amazon Leo Service

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said Amazon’s satellite constellation is scheduled to launch service in mid-2026, in a letter to shareholders on Thursday. Jassy did not share a more specific timeframe for the rollout, but pointed to what he described as the constellation’s unique benefits in terms of performance, cost, and integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS). “The performance will be stronger (about six to eight times better on uplink, and two times better on downlink) than what customers have access to now. Second, this performance will come at a lower cost than alternatives,” Jassy said, seemingly hinting that Amazon Leo will cost less than Starlink. “And third, Leo will seamlessly integrate with AWS to enable enterprises and governments to move data back and forth for storage, analytics, and AI,” Jassy added. Amazon currently has a three-terminal lineup ranging from a portable design to Leo Ultra, which can support download speeds of up to 1 Gbps. Jassy shared his perspective on the potential value of the investment alongside investments Amazon has made in rural delivery and robotics. Earlier this year, the company advised investors that its spend on Amazon Leo will reach more than $1 billion just this year. “Amazon could be successful for a long time without investing this way in robotics, faster rural delivery, and broadband connectivity for underserved customers and geographies. But, we believe we can invent ways to change what’s possible for customers, are hungry to do so, and are confident these investments will yield meaningful growth and return on invested capital for the company,” Jassy wrote in the letter. Amazon has launched 241 satellites in the constellation after the most recent launch last weekend with United Launch Alliance. Chris Weber, the company’s vice president for Leo Business, recently said during SATShow Week that there are more than 200 satellites in the company’s processing facility at Cape Canaveral, and Amazon is planning for 20-plus launches this year as it scales the constellation. Weber also gave some insight into how Amazon plans to start service for the constellation, rolling out initially in two bands, one in the northern hemisphere and one in the south, Weber said. As more satellites are launched, expanding the coverage zones, the bands will extend toward the equator and the poles. Both bands already have ground infrastructure installed and running. When a geography goes live, it will provide services to all categories of customers: consumers, businesses, and governments.

2026-04-01

Network programmability APIs offer monetisation opportunity for telcos – GSMA

• Three years after launch, the GSMA says its Open Gateway has seen huge take up • The network API initiative has found success in anti-fraud solutions and payments • Mixed with AI, APIs will play a key role in future programmable networks, according to the GSMA’s head of networks, Henry Calvert Three years after the launch of the GSMA’s Open Gateway, the API initiative is moving from one of ambition and growth to a project focused on delivering monetisation opportunities for network operators. Today, 86 operator groups, representing more than 300 networks and 80% of global mobile connections, have signed up to a common API framework. Alongside them, more than 60 channel partners – spanning hyperscalers, aggregators and communications platform-as-a-service (CPaaS) providers – are commercialising network APIs at scale, according to the GSMA. Initially, Open Gateway went live at MWC23 with just eight Camara APIs, but now the GSMA reports more than 300 instances of 20 different Camara APIs commercially launched in 65 markets around the world. Speaking with TelecomTV during the recent MWC26 show in Barcelona, the GSMA’s head of networks, Henry Calvert, said: “Open Gateway still has good momentum. Very good momentum. I can’t believe we had an MoU [memorandum of understanding] that we started back in 2023… we’ve got over 80% of mobile connections. They’re live… they’re being used. And we’ve been seeing very impressive growth, well over 130% growth in the revenues,” he stated, though quite what those revenues amount to is not public knowledge. Initial success has been driven by the adoption of APIs in three key areas: Fraud prevention, quality on demand (QoD), and mobility and location. In terms of fraud prevention, multi-operator launches in dozens of countries around the world are enabling banks and retailers to verify identity, detect SIM swap fraud, and secure transactions in real time. Quality-on-demand (QoD) APIs, meanwhile, enable applications to request enhanced network performance for online payments, streaming, gaming, autonomous vehicles, drone safety and other mission-critical operations. And APIs that enable edge discovery, geofencing and device intelligence are helping developers to produce apps that can adapt in real time based on where a device is and how it is performing. Much of the initial successes have been anti-fraud use cases and payments, but Calvert said this is now expanding into other spaces. “When I look at the demand side, outside of the fintech industry, we see that automotive and aviation are really asking for the connection and the ability of the connection. Anti-fraud is the data, business, identity and everything that we’re doing now, but we’re trying to get into the connectivity business, which will make a lot more sense and create a lot more value for operators.” AI and APIs With AI top of the agenda at MWC26, the GSMA is also seeing it impact its API projects, as operators and vendors explore how agentic AI-based systems can automate the way network APIs are discovered, selected and combined. In Barcelona, the likes of Mplify and Colt, Orange and Google Cloud, as well as Nokia and AWS with Orange and du respectively, all showed off API/AI demos. Telefónica and Nokia, for example, launched pilots showing how agent-to-agent (A2A) protocols and the Model Context Protocol (MCP) can orchestrate tasks across AI agents, enabling automatic API discovery, intelligent selection of network capabilities, chaining of multiple APIs, secure entitlement checking and goal-driven workflows without manual intervention. “Agentic AI turns static APIs into dynamic, self-optimising building blocks, letting enterprises integrate telco capabilities into their systems with minimal effort,” explained Calvert. This combination of AI and APIs is vital on the route to programmable networks, he added, noting that the goal is to make connectivity itself more adaptable and responsive to enterprise needs. “It’s having all the context about that connection and that service… that is more programmable for the end user,” he said. As Calvert explained, this is less about exposing individual APIs and more about enabling enterprises to shape how networks behave. “No one API is going to make the difference… you have to get a number of APIs together,” he explained, pointing to a model where capabilities such as identity, location and network performance are combined depending on the use case. Programmability is driven by context. Rather than simply providing access to network functions, operators are exposing the data and controls needed to adapt services on demand. “It’s having all the context about that connection and that service… that is more programmable for the end user,” said Calvert. This marks a shift from static connectivity to something closer to the cloud model, where infrastructure can be configured in real time. As Calvert noted, enterprises are already accustomed to programmable compute and storage – and are beginning to expect the same from connectivity. For operators, this evolution is closely tied to monetisation. “We’re trying to get into the connectivity business… because fundamentally, that’s what you’re asking for in the value of that connection,” he said. “For enterprises, it’s fulfilling something instantaneously, rather than putting in a purchase order and waiting six months.” Calvert noted that “the value is incremental to the operator as well,” highlighting how APIs could help move the telecom sector towards a more cloud-like, usage-based model.

2026-03-16

From framework to scale: Accelerating autonomous networks at MWC 26

Last year, we unveiled our Autonomous Network Operations framework — a blueprint for Communication Service Providers (CSPs) to move beyond siloed automation toward self-healing, "zero-touch" networks. Today, we’re pivoting from networks that merely use AI for insights to intelligent agents capable of sensing, reasoning, and taking autonomous action. As we head into Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona, we’re demonstrating how this shift is becoming a reality. By embedding AI into the heart of operations, companies like Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone are reducing operational complexity and turning connectivity from a utility into a value-creating engine. Product innovation: The engine of the agentic telco A key goal of the industry is to achieve Level 4 to 5 autonomy: a network that identifies, diagnoses, and fixes its own problems without human intervention. To do this, the underlying data platform must be as dynamic as the network itself. Over the last year, we’ve evolved our Cloud Spanner Graph and Vertex AI to handle the "dual nature" of telcos: the need for high-speed, real-time response for alarm correlation, combined with deep, historical pattern detection. Today, we’re refining our platform to support these autonomous operations through:    •The network digital twin: The network digital twin has evolved from a static map into a dynamic, temporal graph that represents the network’s live physical and logical state. It captures real-time performance and fault conditions while allowing agents to query historical states — such as the network’s appearance five hours or days ago — to perform instant, accurate root-cause analysis.    •Unified graph data layer: We’re breaking down the silos between operational and analytical data. By leveraging Spanner Graph for digital twins and federated graph analytics through BigQuery, telcos can interoperate between real-time updates and deep historical analysis without complex, slow ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes.    •Real-time predictions with GNN: Operators can now train Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) on their network digital twin data in Vertex AI. They can then use the trained GNN models, along with Spanner’s ML.PREDICT capability and the real-time data in the network digital twin, to move from monitoring to predicting, mathematically tracking how a failure might propagate, and resolving it before it impacts subscribers. Solution updates: Accelerating time-to-value One of the biggest hurdles to achieving Level 4 to 5 autonomy is manual delays caused by disconnected legacy systems. We’re launching new tools to replace bottlenecks with a unified, automated system:    •Open-source data foundation: To accelerate adoption, we’re releasing our telco data pipeline and data models source code on GitHub. CSPs can now implement unified industry-standard ontologies without manual schema mapping.    •New telco agents: In partnership with FutureConnections, we’re launching two new proof-of-value agents:        ºData steward agent: An agentic workflow that automates data governance to ensure digital twins remain accurate.        ºAutonomous network agents: Currently being trialed by One NZ, these agents manage voice core and OSS networks, moving beyond monitoring to active execution — like independently rerouting traffic or resetting network settings to restore call quality the moment a drop is detected. Ecosystem momentum: Innovation in action True autonomy requires a vibrant ecosystem. This year, we’re highlighting several key milestones:.    •MasOrange & NetAI: We’re working with NetAI to deliver GraphML-based AIOps. Together, we’ve launched a pilot project with MasOrange that demonstrates how specialized partner models can run on Google Cloud’s AI stack to resolve network incidents while providing the confidence for autonomous action.    •Nokia "Network as Code": We’re partnering with Nokia to make networks fully programmable by turning complex technical code into AI agents that understand everyday language. This allows telcos to simply ask the network to perform complex tasks — like prioritizing network resources for critical services like emergency response or remote healthcare — without needing any manual engineering. Looking ahead The agentic AI era is here. By embedding AI into the fabric of a telco’s network, we’re helping operators transform from connectivity utilities into intelligent service providers that continue to delight customers. Join us at MWC: Visit booth #2H40 in Hall 2 to see these solutions in action, including live demonstrations of multi-agent systems, digital twins, and physical AI robots. You can also dive deeper into our approach by downloading our latest whitepaper.

2026-03-16

Qualcomm accelerates 6G trajectory to drive device-to-data-center transformation for leading network providers

As the industry looks beyond 5G, 6G is emerging as the intelligent connectivity and sensing fabric for the world’s AI-centric future. 6G will power a new era of immersive personal AI, physical and industrial AI, while delivering unprecedented operational and power efficiencies for network providers, lowering total cost of ownership and enabling new services and revenue streams. As the leading driver in previous G transitions, Qualcomm is mobilizing the global ecosystem around building an AI-native, power-efficient connectivity and sensing platform, accelerating the industry’s path to 6G-driven transformation and growth. 6G explained: connectivity, sensing and compute working together 6G is being designed as an efficiency-first, AI-native system that presents a generational opportunity for industry growth along three key vectors:     • Connectivity: A generational leap in cellular coverage and capacity to support expanding wireless data demand and uplink traffic driven by users, sensors and edge AI, while improving energy and operational efficiency through wider bandwidths, Giga-MIMO, advanced waveforms and coding, and multi-device paradigms.     • Sensing: Unprecedented wide-area sensing capabilities integrated across the end-to-end network and system architecture for dynamic object detection and classification, using radio signals and multimodal fusion. 6G intelligent networks enable entirely new classes of business services and use cases such as digital twins, drone detection, vehicle traffic monitoring, physical AI applications and much more.     • High-performance compute: As an intelligent and context‑aware platform, 6G enables efficient compute and AI capabilities at every network tier — from devices, to edge, to cloud — to support connectivity, sensing and network management workloads. Through distributed compute, AI and application workloads can be dynamically partitioned and executed across these tiers based on real‑time context and network conditions, improving efficiency, responsiveness and scalability. By virtue of these vectors, 6G will enable network transformation toward an AI-as-a-service model, redefining network edge nodes as sensing and computation nodes, enabling new revenue models and growth in an AI economy, for network providers. How Qualcomm is advancing 6G through research, standards and technology leadership Qualcomm’s device-to-data-center expertise built on leadership in wireless, sensing and high-performance compute technologies, all with unmatched performance-per-watt efficiency, strongly positions the company to lead the ecosystem to a 6G architecture that benefits users and network providers. Qualcomm’s leadership in 6G standards and unmatched technology portfolio across modem-RF, 6G air interface, scalable RAN solutions, autonomous RAN management, AI orchestration, heterogeneous computing, telco server-grade and data center-grade CPU, NPU and AI stacks, make it the globally trusted and established partner for 6G transformation. Qualcomm is driving 3GPP standardization with foundational 6G air interface features that enable ultra-efficient integrated connectivity and sensing. Massive capacity and deep coverage will be enabled with 400 MHz channel bandwidth, power efficient DFT-spread waveforms, cost-effective LDPC coding and non-uniform modulation. The introduction of integrated sensing and communication, and AI-native capabilities in the devices and networks will also enable the convergence of physical AI, sensing and digital twin services. Today, the path toward realizing the 6G vision with 6G prototyping is progressing rapidly:     • New 6G user experiences including agentic and XR experiences with context awareness, distributed compute and multi-device collaboration, as well as new services for personal and physical AI are being prototyped and trialed with leading operators, infrastructure providers and device makers.     • Qualcomm has also validated foundational RF alignment and Giga-MIMO technology over 6G bands across leading infrastructure vendors and in our device-to-RAN testbed.     • The addition of Agentic RAN Management in the Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite offers a roadmap for 6G autonomous networks.     • Our investments in racks, servers, accelerator cards and AI stacks for networks, apps and agents, are building the comprehensive device-to-data-center roadmap for accelerating 6G readiness and transformation. 6G transformation is well under way. At MWC Barcelona 2026, Qualcomm demonstrated breakthroughs and announced new milestones including:     • Foundational 6G evolution, AI-native design for new experiences and sensing-enabled digital twin platforms for new services     • Qualcomm X105 5G Modem-RF — the world's first Release 19-ready modem     • Agentic RAN Management Service and AI enhancements for commercial RAN platforms Attendees of MWC Barcelona can also visit Qualcomm Booth #3E10 located in Hall 3 to see the demonstrations and speak with Qualcomm representatives.

2026-03-16

Telekom closes the last whitespots in Europe with Starlink satellite-to-mobile

Deutsche Telekom is expanding its network coverage through satellite-based direct connectivity. In partnership with Starlink, Deutsche Telekom will bring mobile communications to areas where network expansion is particularly challenging, for example due to nature conservation requirements or demanding topography. “We provide our customers with the best mobile network. And we continue to invest heavily in expanding our infrastructure,” said Abdu Mudesir, Board Member for Product and Technology at Deutsche Telekom. “At the same time, there are regions where expansion is especially complex due to topographical conditions or official constraints. We want to ensure reliable connectivity for our customers in those areas as well. That is why we are strategically complementing our network with satellite-to-mobile connectivity. For us, it is clear: connectivity creates security and trust. And we deliver. Everywhere.” “We’re so pleased to bring reliable satellite-to-mobile connectivity to millions of people across 10 countries in partnership with Deutsche Telekom,“ said Stephanie Bednarek, VP of Starlink Sales. “This agreement will be the first-of-its-kind in Europe to launch Starlink’s V2 next-generation technology that will expand on data, voice and messaging by providing broadband directly to mobile phones.“ Direct-to-Device: Connectivity Beyond Traditional Cell Coverage The service will operate only in Starlink’s MSS (Mobile Satellite Service) spectrum. The planned direct-to-device services will enable future compatible smartphones to connect directly to satellites. When a modern smartphone loses its terrestrial mobile signal, it will automatically switch to Starlink’s satellite network, enabling access to data, video, voice, and text messaging services. This creates an additional connectivity layer for data and voice services beyond traditional cellular coverage. The number of compatible devices in Europe is expected to grow steadily in the run-up to the planned launch in 2028. Starlink’s next-generation satellite constellation is scheduled to be in place by then. Greater Resilience in Emergency Situations By integrating satellite-based mobile connectivity, Telekom is also increasing the robustness of its mobile network and providing additional safety for customers, particularly in exceptional or infrastructure-constrained situations such as natural disasters or prolonged power outages. The “Everywhere Network”: Always the Best Available Connection Telekom follows a clear principle: customers always receive the best available connectivity. Anytime, anywhere. This is primarily delivered via its high-performance terrestrial network, meaning connections through traditional mobile sites. In Germany, Telekom already provides by far the largest 5G geographic coverage, reaching close to 90 percent of the country’s area. LTE covers more than 92 percent of the area, and voice services are available across up to 99 percent. Starlink’s satellite connectivity will extend the reach of the existing infrastructure when the terrestrial mobile network is unavailable. This creates an integrated network of mobile communications and satellite technology that delivers comprehensive, resilient, and future-proof connectivity, the “Everywhere Network.” The service launch is scheduled for early 2028 in several European Telekom markets, including Germany.

2026-01-12

NT$27 billion, six-year plan to boost next-gen communications

Technology Council briefing on a plan to develop next-generation communications technology. The premier said that as 6G and broadband satellite communications gain global momentum, Taiwan should seize this opportunity to build up its next-generation communications technology industry, in line with President Lai Ching-te's policy vision of advancing the Five Trusted Industry Sectors (semiconductors, artificial intelligence, military, security and surveillance, and next-generation communications). Premier Cho stated that NT$27 billion (approximately US$926.2 million) will be allocated over a six-year period to support the plan, with a focus on three key strategies: deploying critical application services, constructing experimental networks while accelerating technology R&D and trials, and enhancing cross-sector collaborations within the industry ecosystem. The plan will be aligned with the updated third phase of the National Space Technology Long-term Development Program, and will be implemented through a public-private partnership model to build a self-reliant development framework fueled by technology-driven industrial innovation. These efforts aim to deepen international cooperation, strengthen Taiwan's strategic role in the global supply chain and enhance the influence of the nation's next-generation communications industry on international decision-making, thereby positioning Taiwan as a vital and trusted partner in the global democratic community.