Why direct‑to‑device is becoming the next strategic frontier

“D2D is gaining momentum because it finally makes the economics of universal coverage viable. By turning previously unreachable regions into addressable markets without the cost of new terrestrial build‑out – D2D collapses the old distinction between mobile and satellite. For mobile operators, it’s the foundation of a new commercial landscape where resilience, reach and service innovation become differentiators rather than cost centres.

“But the reason D2D matters is also the reason it is hard. Delivering satellite‑grade performance to everyday devices stretches the limits of physics, power, timing, antenna design and network control. It demands new approaches to coexistence with terrestrial services, new architectures for constellation management and new forms of deep tech innovation across hardware, software and intelligent orchestration. The real breakthroughs are happening inside the network – in beamforming, signal processing, AI‑native control and the system‑wide architectures that make global interoperability possible.

“With standards still evolving, the window for differentiation is now. Early movers have a rare opportunity to shape the reference models that 6G non-terrestrial networks will eventually converge around – defining architectures, influencing interoperability and setting the pace for the ecosystem. Success will depend on collaboration across mobile, satellite, device and infrastructure partners, because no single organisation can solve the technical or commercial challenges alone. The leaders who act early, invest in deep tech and help shape the standards will be the ones who define the next era of global connectivity.”