New Association to Advance Satellite Connectivity for Phones

Five major space internet companies have come together to form the new Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA). The organization aims "to promote and advance the emerging Direct-to-Device (D2D) ecosystem", meaning satellite connectivity for phones and other devices in cellular dead zones. The group will coordinate spectrum and standards for the technology, including working with the 3GPP cellular standards group on NTN (non-terrestrial network) technology already being integrated into some cellular chipsets. Together, the companies already have access to over 100 MHz of L- and S-band spectrum that is well-suited to this application. The companies include ViaSat and OmniSpace, which operate global networks, TerreStar and Ligado, which focus on North America, and Yahsat, which operates nearly everywhere except North America.