This report analyzes key trends discussed at MWC 2025 in Barcelona related to satellite and non-terrestrial networks (NTN).
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Summary
Satellite and non-terrestrial networks (NTN) have had a growing presence at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in recent years, and MWC Barcelona 2025 was no exception. GSMA Intelligence hosted a dedicated satellite and NTN summit, which focused on advancements in satellite connectivity and its ongoing challenges. Demand for this topic was extremely high, preventing many attendees from entering as the session quickly reached capacity.
The increasing importance of NTN was evident at MWC 2025
With the aim of enabling ubiquitous coverage, satellite and NTN will play a more prominent role in the future of connectivity. The growth in low-earth orbit (LEO) constellations has opened new opportunities in the industry, especially in providing services to regular smartphones, commonly referred to as “direct-to-device” (D2D) technology. Unlike traditional satellite phones, D2D technology allows regular smartphones to connect to satellite using existing hardware (with minor software updates), making it a more accessible and cost-effective method for users.
At MWC 2025, satellite and NTN were in high demand with so many attendees eager to go to the dedicated satellite and NTN summit that the session reached full capacity, preventing many from entering. The high demand is driven by a diverse ecosystem and stakeholders engaged in NTN. This includes long-standing, established satellite operators such as Eutelsat, but there is also a growing number of new entrants, such as Starlink or AST SpaceMobile, which are actively shaping the market. Many of these newer satellite operators have ambitious plans to create LEO constellations but Starlink, with around 500 satellites with D2D capabilities already in space, remains the largest operator for now.
The number of telcos that have formed partnerships with satellite operators has rapidly grown over the last 12 months and some operators, such as Verizon, AT&T, and Vodafone, have become investors in satellite operators (i.e., AST SpaceMobile). However, all telcos are closely watching this space to evaluate the impact NTN could have on traditional telecom services. While D2D capabilities are currently limited to text messaging, Starlink plans to extend services to calls and data by end-2025, which will be a significant change.
Besides satellite and telco operators, government bodies, regulators, and space agencies were also present at MWC, emphasizing the need to create standardization and policies for the quickly evolving market.
The path to ubiquitous coverage is marked by opportunities and obstacles
NTN was a hyped topic at MWC, with some attendees referring to the idea of “democratizing the sky,” meaning that satellite connectivity will no longer be limited to certain parties such as governments, but will be available to everyone. Cost has always been a major entry barrier to accessing space but launch and satellite production costs have fallen, which has enabled a wave of new players to enter the market in recent years. Many attendees voiced high expectations for NTN to enable new growth opportunities across industries, such as agriculture or mining, but tangible use cases were limited. Several attendees noted that there will be “future use cases that we cannot yet think of,” but it was left unclear what these cases will ultimately look like.
NTN D2D use cases are currently limited to text messaging, primarily used for mission-critical communication and disaster management. With capacity on demand, satellite can provide connectivity when it is urgently required or when traditional networks have been destroyed. This includes, for example, T-Mobile US’s temporary use of Starlink connectivity to provide critical communication options to users during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. Another use case that is often mentioned is the coverage of remote and rural areas and the elimination of white spots. Many countries have topography that makes it difficult or impossible to deploy traditional broadband or mobile networks, and satellite can fill these coverage gaps. But the feasibility of this use case will depend on geography. In many European countries, for example, mobile networks provide almost universal coverage, making the total addressable market in these countries small.
Challenges in the satellite ecosystem are multi-faceted and there are many areas of NTN that have not yet been completely defined, such as regulatory policy and spectrum allocation. Satellite providers are currently required to gain approval from local authorities and various international bodies to operate within their borders. While the 3GPP and other standards bodies are working to refine specifications for satellite technologies, it remains a complex topic, and it will require close international coordination and standardization to allow NTN to grow in scale. Spectrum management will be critical to avoid interference with terrestrial networks, and spectrum sharing between satellite and cellular networks will influence market adoption on a local basis. The interoperability of NTN and terrestrial will be crucial, requiring close collaboration between telcos, satellite operators, and regulators. NTN is expected to be a native component of 6G standards and will play a significant role in that technological evolution. Thus, these areas must be defined clearly in the near future to ensure seamless integration and performance.
In the short term, D2D services will remain inferior to mobile networks, and complement and replace traditional networks only in very selected use cases, such as in case of infrastructure failure or emergencies. While there is still a lot of work to be done before NTN becomes mass-market ready, the satellite ecosystem is moving fast, and with continuous improvements in quality of service, its role in connectivity will grow, particularly with 6G on the horizon. At MWC, there was a clear vision of an ideal future where users can seamlessly roam between terrestrial and NTN.
Appendix
Further reading
LEO Operators Market – 2025v (January 2025)
Spectrum for LEO Satellite Communications (January 2025)
D2D (Direct to Device) satellite: challenges and opportunities: a Latin America perspective (February 2025)
“NTN is setting sky-high expectations, yet its impact on enterprise and 5G is yet to be seen” (February 2025)
Satellite IoT Market Analysis – 2024 (July 2024)
“Disaster recovery becomes the first use case of satellite direct-to-device services” (January 2025)
“Chinese players accelerate development of the satellite communication service” (January 2025)
Author
Julia Schindler, Senior Analyst, Europe Service Provider Markets
