Satellite potential vastly underutilised, says GSA report

In the swiftly evolving world of cellular communication, satellites' potential to augment terrestrial networks, phone services, and broadband remains under-explored, according to the latest report from the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA). With advancements in this sector still in their infancy, the GSA's report on Non-Terrestrial 5G Networks and Satellite Connectivity signals a steady growth in the application of satellites, particularly in facilitating rural coverage.

As of March 2024, the GSA reported a total of 77 publicly announced collaborations between operators and satellite vendors spreading across 43 countries. Among these, 50 operators in 37 countries have future plans for satellite services, whilst nine are presently evaluating or trialling the technology. Significantly, commercial satellite services have been introduced by 10 operators in ten different countries, marking an increase of two operators since August 2023.

The report details that satellite technology's main use case is in providing rural coverage, accounting for 57% of all the identified collaborations. In fact, 34 countries, including the UK, Mexico, Japan, the UAE, Papua New Guinea and most recently, Timor-Leste, have put into operation, or are planning to launch, satellite broadband services. In addition, five more are currently examining or trialling them, and 26 countries are in the early planning stages.

Joe Barrett, President of the Global mobile Suppliers Association, stated, "The number of operator and satellite provider partnerships will grow over the coming months and years. The rate at which partnerships launch their services will also increase." He further underscored the rising demand for broadband, voice, and data services, and satellite-to-cellphone technology was pushing more and more operators to extend their resources to reach people in rural areas. According to him, this trend would likely continue, especially in instances of natural disasters affecting terrestrial networks.

The detailed GSA report maps out the 3GPP-defined satellite roadmap and frequency band usage, demonstrating significant milestones in the development of 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks and Satellite Connectivity. The report also features charts detailing the status of the partnerships between satellite providers and mobile operators.

In conclusion, Barrett hinted at a promising future for satellites in cellular communication: "This is already evident in the continuing growth in launched broadband satellite services over the past four months, with the current majority in the planning phase... As a result, GSA expects to see more countries with satellite service offerings soon."

This report draws on public information collected by the GSA, focusing on the number of announced mobile network operator and satellite provider partnerships; uses; commercial status; geographic availability; and frequency bands being earmarked for non-terrestrial network (NTN) use.

GSA is 'the voice of the global mobile ecosystem' representing companies engaged in the supply of infrastructure, semiconductors, test equipment, devices, applications and mobile support services. The organisation plays a central role in promoting 3GPP technology, advocating spectrum policies and stimulating IMT industry development. The association is a single source of information for industry reports and market intelligence.