The growing momentum behind partnerships between telecom and satellite companies is evident as AT&T and AST SpaceMobile have signed a definitive agreement extending until 2030 to create the first fully space-based broadband network for mobile phones. Concurrently, Starlink has officially launched its commercial satellite-based internet service in Indonesia and received approvals to offer the service in Malaysia and the Philippines.
Over the past two years, the telco-satellite market has seen significant industry-wide growth, driven by the integration of Non-Terrestrial Networks in 5G New Radio as part of 3GPP Release 17. GSMA Intelligence reports that 91 operators, representing about 5 billion global connections (60% of the total mobile market), have partnered with satellite operators. Although the regulatory landscape and policy will influence the commercial launch of these services in various regions, the primary objective is to achieve ubiquitous connectivity through a blend of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.