MWC26, the world’s largest and most influential connectivity event, marked 20 years in Barcelona this year—celebrating two decades of technologies that have helped shape modern digital life. When the industry gathered here in 2006, the rollout of 3G and the shift toward mobile data signalled a new era for communications. Since then, connectivity has expanded dramatically, with 96% of the global population now living within reach of mobile broadband coverage.
Twenty years on, another transformation is underway. Advances in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems are accelerating the deployment of large-scale constellations and enabling new services. Increasingly, these systems can provide direct-to-user connectivity, sometimes without relying on partnerships with terrestrial operators.
As these services evolve, an important policy question emerges: are existing regulatory frameworks keeping pace with these developments?
Time is now!
Now is the right opportunity for regulators to reassess existing policies to accommodate these new direct-to-user services. To guide this updated and adaptive framework, the GSMA has launched a global policy position paper at MWC26 that proposes the following five principles:
- Transparency and predictability: Ensure clear and transparent regulatory requirements to facilitate efficient market entry and build industry confidence.
- Regulatory parity: Allow for equitable treatment of sectoral laws and regulations across all service providers.
- Harmonisation: Align regional and international policies to reduce fragmentation and enhance regulatory efficiency.
- Collaboration and consultation: Strengthen dialogue among governments, regulators and industry stakeholders for informed and inclusive policymaking.
- Balance innovation with regulation: Encourage technological progress while maintaining compliance, consumer protection and national security to build trust.
Ministerial Programme 2026
The GSMA Ministerial Programme convened policymakers for a focused discussion on this topic, organising a dedicated panel session: Ask The Regulator: Rocketing Toward Coherent LEO Satellite Policies and a government-only closed-door roundtable: “Towards a Harmonised Policy Framework for Satellite Services.”
The GSMA engaged with regulators and ministers to understand how they are adapting regulatory frameworks to reflect the evolving satellite connectivity landscape. Discussions underscored the need to modernise existing frameworks to ensure they are clear, harmonised and future-ready, guided by the principles outlined in the GSMA position paper.
At a closed-door roundtable bringing together decision makers from over 35 countries and several international and regional organisations, the GSMA posed an important question: What key principles should guide the future development of national satellite policy?
Result:
While agreeing to all the principles, this survey revealed the need to maintain compliance, consumer protection, and national security, while ensuring that the regulatory frameworks for satellite services (provided without partnerships) set requirements comparable to those for existing services.
Collaborate with the GSMA and industry
We thank all participants for the candid and constructive exchange of views and for sharing developments from their respective markets. The GSMA looks forward to continuing its engagement with policymakers and regulators to help advance modern, forward-looking frameworks that support fair market access, strengthen consumer trust, and foster sustainable investment.
Read more takeaways from the spectrum policy discussions related to satellite here.
Watch highlights from the “Ask the Regulator – LEO Satellite Policies” session