{"id":22490,"date":"2025-09-15T17:01:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T16:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/?p=22490"},"modified":"2025-09-15T17:01:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T16:01:12","slug":"gsma-releases-guidance-to-support-new-direct-to-device-d2d-satellite-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/?p=22490","title":{"rendered":"GSMA releases guidance to support new Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite services"},"content":{"rendered":"

New paper highlights spectrum regulatory approach for governments as mobile and satellite industries converge<\/strong><\/p>\n

The GSMA launched a new public policy paper on spectrum considerations for D2D services, providing governments with guidance for this emerging technology. D2D connects mobile handsets directly to satellites, supplementing coverage from terrestrial mobile networks and enhancing network resilience. D2D can have a positive impact if national regulations protect against harmful interference into mobile networks, which serve 5.8 billion people globally.
\nTo shape best practice on D2D, the GSMA Board launched a spectrum task force in 2024 \u2013 bringing together over 50 mobile and satellite operators. The paper draws from those discussions and offers governments practical, near-term guidance.
\nJohn Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer at the GSMA, said: \u201cDirect-to-device satellite connectivity has the potential to extend the reach of mobile, strengthen resilience and deliver real societal benefits. But without careful and balanced regulation, it risks disrupting the very mobile services that billions of people rely on every day. Our guidelines are designed to help governments embrace innovation while protecting the foundations of the mobile ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Extending mobile coverage<\/strong>
\nToday 57% of the world\u2019s population is connected to mobile broadband and D2D can add resilience and supplement their services when they travel to areas with no connectivity, such as deserts, oceans, or mountains.
\nIt can also help connect part of the unconnected who live outside coverage of mobile broadband networks (the coverage gap), estimated at 4% of the global population.
\nCrucially, 39% of people live within mobile coverage but are not connected (the usage gap) because of issues such as affordability and digital literacy. Addressing both the lack of coverage and usage are essential to achieving the industry vision of connecting everyone.
\nSatellite\u2019s strength lies in its ability to reach remote areas. It cannot provide the capacity that terrestrial mobile networks can deliver, but with the correct regulation, D2D can supplement terrestrial mobile coverage.<\/p>\n

Two distinct spectrum paths<\/strong>
\nD2D services can operate in two different types of spectrum, each with unique regulatory implications:<\/p>\n

Using mobile (IMT) spectrum:<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Enables the use of standard handsets.
\n\u2022 Requires commercial agreements between mobile network operators (MNOs) and satellite operators.
\n\u2022 Means regulators can ensure access derives from existing licensed MNO spectrum.
\n\u2022 Benefits from following early regulation from countries such as the US, Canada and Australia which authorise MNOs to share their spectrum under their existing licences.<\/p>\n

Using mobile satellite service (MSS) spectrum:<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Handsets must include specialised chipsets, currently limited to a small number of high-end devices.
\n\u2022 While it may not be necessary for satellite operators to join forces with mobile operators, users are likely to adopt services more seamlessly where commercial partnerships are in place.
\n\u2022 3GPP has already standardised several MSS bands, but widespread adoption in devices is still lacking.<\/p>\n

Priorities for policymakers<\/strong>
\nThe GSMA\u2019s paper highlights that governments considering early D2D regulation should:
\n\u2022 Protect mobile networks by requiring D2D operations to prevent interference with existing mobile services domestically and across borders.
\n\u2022 Support commercial partnerships between MNOs and satellite operators to benefit both industries and consumers.
\n\u2022 Ensure regulatory consistency by updating any early national rules with forthcoming WRC-27 outcomes to avoid fragmentation.
\n\u2022 Recognise handset availability limits, especially for MSS-based D2D, when setting policy expectations.<\/p>\n

Above, John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer at the GSMA \/ image credited to the GSMA<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New paper highlights spectrum regulatory approach for governments as mobile and satellite industries converge The GSMA launched a new public policy paper on spectrum considerations for D2D services, providing governments with guidance for this emerging technology. D2D connects mobile handsets directly to satellites, supplementing coverage from terrestrial mobile networks and enhancing network resilience. D2D can … <\/p>\n

Continue reading \u00abGSMA releases guidance to support new Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite services\u00bb<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22491,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[32],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22490"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22490"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22492,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22490\/revisions\/22492"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/telecomkh.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}