5G is driving the integration of satellite and telecom networks. To learn more, Constellations spoke with a panel of experts, including James Trinh, Director of Global Business Development, VIAVI Solutions; Andrew Cavalier, Senior Analyst, ABI Research; and Greg Quiggle, SVP of Product Management, Kratos.
Listen to the full conversation, or read our top four takeaways below.
Takeaway 1: Integration of satellite and telecom will significantly expand the market for both players.
“Satellite is seeing how they can tap into the billions of devices they didn’t have access to before,” said James Trinh of VIAVI Solutions. On the other side, “telcos are trying to figure out how they can tap into new business models by leveraging satellite.”
For telcos, satellite is no longer just “a special thing on the side,” said Greg Quiggle of Kratos. “Telcos are getting way more comfortable with the use of satellite as an access technology.” Bringing the markets together doesn’t just create new answers to existing use cases—it increases the sheer number of customers that each market can reach. “By combining these two markets together, you’re developing a new business model for both sides,” Trinh said. “You’re not just increasing the pie, you’re getting a whole other pie.”
Takeaway 2: Integration will make key use cases like maritime and D2D economically viable.
Satcom-telecom integration opens a big market opportunity. “At the end of the day, it’s about economy of scale,” Trinh explained. “The more you tap into standard-based technology, the more economy of scale you can manage.”
One example of this is SpaceX making strides in D2C, as well as several other large players continuing to pursue D2D, which could be a billion-dollar opportunity. “We have billions of devices that move in and out of cellular coverage, connecting our cell phones, our smartwatches, our iPads, whatever it is,” Cavalier said. Compared to satellite, where it can be highly expensive to bring on a new subscriber, D2D would allow satellite to connect with millions of users that are already carrying devices.
“It’s a big differentiator to have the ability to provide coverage where you weren’t originally able to,” Cavalier said, including hard-to-reach places. This includes massive markets, like the maritime industry, as well as life-saving ones, like supporting emergency response situations. “You can go out there and provide satellite communication within minutes, and you could save a lot of lives,” Trinh said.
Takeaway 3: Multi-orbit architectures will be key for seamless D2D service.
“Network is really hard when you’re trying to land a single seamless service into two completely different teleports because they’re on different orbit regimes,” Quiggle said. “This push for standard, not only does it help with integrating more tightly with telcos, it also starts to bring forward the promise of multi-orbit services.”
LEO and GEO have distinct advantages for direct-to-device communication. For example, LEO offers extremely low latency, while GEO can give strong coverage in even the highest density areas. “You can really see how the two orbits play off each other,” Quiggle said, which is why multi-orbit architectures will be key.
5G makes this seamless hybrid service possible. By sharing a standard, the two systems speak the same language—rather than trying to find a way for a LEO on a proprietary-A network to talk to a GEO on a proprietary-B network.
Takeaway 4: 6G will be native to NTN.
3GPP standards have governed the terrestrial communications industry for decades now, from 3G to 5G, as well as current efforts to build the 6G standard. These standards are a result of a massive investment by the telecom industry to govern and maintain the standard to guarantee connectivity and service across the world.
“[Satellite] never really put that level of effort and investment and energy into maintaining standards,” Quiggle said. As a result, if you wanted to roam around the world with a satellite terminal, it would be very unlikely for you to be able to maintain connectivity from one operator to the next. While 3GPP standards were initially built for terrestrial networks, embracing them will be a key step forward for being able to take advantage of new growth prospects.
“Satellite is going to be a foundation towards this total network solution,” Cavalier said. “6G is really a play for both telco and satellite. It’s not just 6G terrestrial, it’s 6G satellite and telco.”
For more on 3GPP Release 18, D2D use cases and rural connectivity, listen to the full podcast episode.
Explore More:
What Role Will Non-Terrestrial Networks Play in 6G?
Podcast: Standards, Spectrum and Seamless Connectivity for D2D Services
Spectrum Choices Dictate the Launch and Evolution of D2D Services
