GSA sees surge in satellite-to-cellphone partnerships

GSA has published new data showing 275 publicly announced operator-satellite partnerships across 101 countries and territories, pointing to continued growth in commercial non-terrestrial network services.

Its latest market report found that 57 operators in 35 countries and territories have launched commercial offerings linked to satellite connectivity. Of those, 21 partnerships in 17 countries and territories have already launched satellite-to-cellphone services.

The data shows satellite-to-cellphone has become a major driver of activity in the non-terrestrial 5G market. At the same time, 5G NTN is being used for fixed broadband services, mainly in rural and remote areas where terrestrial coverage is limited.

Fixed broadband accounts for 38% of all identified partnerships, down from 45% in the previous edition of the report as satellite-to-cellphone projects have accelerated.

By mid-April 2026, 23 fixed broadband partnerships had resulted in launched services, up by two since February 2026. A further seven were in evaluation, testing, trial or licensing phases, while another 75 involved planned services.

The report also points to slower progress in the IoT and M2M segment. These projects account for 8.3% of all identified satellite partnerships, making them the least developed part of the market.

GSA attributed the slower pace to long device replacement cycles in the IoT sector, which can delay adoption of newer communications technologies. That contrasts with the faster commercial progress seen in direct-to-device services and rural broadband links.

Market split

The figures underline how non-terrestrial connectivity is expanding beyond niche trials into live services. They also show operators pursuing several models at once, including consumer satellite messaging and broadband coverage in hard-to-reach regions.

GSA tracks announced partnerships between mobile network operators and satellite providers, along with their use cases, commercial status, geographic reach and the frequency bands earmarked for NTN deployments. It also maintains data on satellite vendors by country or territory and on the smartphone market for satellite connectivity.

The report includes breakdowns of partnerships focused on rural and enterprise broadband, satellite-to-cellphone technology, and IoT and M2M services. It also maps the countries and territories involved in each category and examines the 3GPP radio access network roadmap.

The market remains varied in structure. Some operators are developing satellite links to extend network reach in remote communities, while others are using partnerships to add emergency coverage or direct mobile access where terrestrial networks are unavailable.

Joe Barrett, President of the Global Mobile Suppliers Association, said the number of partnerships between operators and satellite providers will continue to rise in the coming years.

"The need for operators to cater to people in rural areas, as well as in the event of natural disasters where terrestrial networks may be affected, will drive interest and momentum for broadband and satellite-to-cellphone technology. GSA has observed operators pursuing a multivendor approach for satellite-to-cellphone in different markets, and this growing device ecosystem and greater interest in the technology will help fuel further satellite partnerships in the year ahead."