Satellite Network Rivalry

Direct-to-satellite connectivity lets compatible phones connect where there are no cell towers, using satellites that receive the signal and relay it to telecom networks. However, it is affected by obstacles and has limited capacity compared with terrestrial networks. Satellites are therefore expected to complement towers, especially in remote areas, rather than replace them. One study suggests they could be a cost-effective alternative to upgrading 4–10% of macro cell sites in typical networks. By the end of 2025, around 3% of the world’s population was still outside mobile internet coverage, while 3.4 billion people did not use it—showing that satellite coverage alone cannot address the gap in people’s ability to access and use the service. The coming competition between satellite operators and telecom companies is expected to center on spectrum, connectivity management, and customer relationships, as networks increasingly combine terrestrial and space-based systems.

Size: 120%Text Size

Notice: This Is an AI-Generated Summary

Display The Full Article