Omdia says this level of satellite direct-to-device activity signals growing confidence it will be important to future mobile services – T-Mobile US yesterday reported lower than expected usage
Satellite direct to device (D2D) connectivity is moving from concept to commercialisation in Europe, according to new research from Omdia. Momentum is building: as of March 2026, 22% of European mobile network operators have launched, are trialling, or have announced D2D satellite partnerships.
“European telcos have started to integrate D2D satellite into their mobile portfolios,” said Julia Schindler, Principal Analyst, Service Provider Strategy, at Omdia. “Operators that use this early phase to test technology, form partnerships, and understand customer demand will be better positioned for a 6G future in which terrestrial and non terrestrial networks are deeply integrated.”
For now commercial D2D services in Europe are limited to messaging and basic data, so monetisation in the near term is limited too. As a result, most operators are positioning D2D as a coverage and resilience enhancer rather than a standalone revenue driver.
The time is now
Typical approaches include bundling D2D capabilities into premium mobile tiers or offering them as paid add-ons, similar to international roaming. Omdia believes that now is the time for operators to experiment with the technology, secure strategic partnerships and refine go-to-market models before broader adoption turns D2D into a more commoditised service.
European operators are mostly looking to D2D solutions that enable unmodified smartphones to connect directly to satellites using current mobile technologies. This offers the most scalable pathway and allows for tighter integration with established mobile offerings and billing systems.
Multi-vendor strategies
“While Starlink has enabled the fastest path to early deployment, sovereignty and control are becoming increasingly important drivers for alternative partner selection,” Schindler added. “Many European telcos are deliberately pursuing multi-vendor strategies to preserve flexibility and reduce long term dependency as D2D becomes part of critical national infrastructure.”
Alternative providers, such as Satellite Connect Europe, are becoming increasingly attractive as operators diversify their partner ecosystem.
Despite progress, regulatory uncertainty and spectrum availability remain the primary barriers to broader commercial rollouts, with regulatory readiness varying significantly by country. Nevertheless, Omdia expects today’s D2D trials and commercial services to play a critical role in preparing operators for the 6G era, when non‑terrestrial networks are expected to be natively embedded into terrestrial networks.
“D2D capabilities are limited today, but their strategic importance for the future should not be underestimated,” Schindler concluded.
Disappointment for T-Mobile US
It came as a bit of a jolt given all the optimism around D2D to that yesterday the CEO of T-Mobile, Srini Gopalan announced its T-Satellite D2D is used much less than the carrier expected. He added, “Most of the usage we’re seeing is in national parks,” according to a report in Light Reading. Gopalan was speaking at the carrier’s Q1 earnings call.
SpaceX began commercial D2D service with T-Mobile in July 2025; data capabilities were expanded in October 2025. T-Mobile announced the service in January 2025 and 1.8 million people signed up for the beta trial.
