GSO Direct-To-Device: Delivering Today

������� is already providing first generation D2D services through our licensed Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum and geostationary SkyTerra-1 satellite network. These narrowband capabilities enable both emergency SOS and basic messaging, supporting millions of devices across the U.S. and Canada to stay connected when it matters most. It’s a critical first step in making satellite connectivity a mainstream feature of mobile life.

Licensed MSS Spectrum: Structured for Broadband

������� has strategically coordinated and configured its L-Band spectrum into channels that are usable for broadband services and compatible with terrestrial 5G networks. These efforts required significant investments and successfully secured access to over 40 MHz of L-Band spectrum creating contiguous 10 MHz channels that will support the demand for space-based mobile broadband.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MSS SPECTRUM FOR D2D

A New Layer of Connectivity: Collaboration with AST SpaceMobile

������� and AST SpaceMobile are collaborating to enable broadband service directly to everyday mobile devices in the United States and Canada. The hosting of �������’s L-Band spectrum on AST SpaceMobile’s low Earth orbit network is a sea change with the potential to materially accelerate access to broadband D2D services. Together, we’re helping to expand the reach of mobile networks and to redefine what’s possible in satellite communications.

Orbiting Toward Innovation: Making Space-Based Mobile Broadband a Reality

Today, ������� filed a modification application with the FCC to enable flexible use of our L-Band spectrum for space-based mobile broadband services in the United States. The filing would modify our existing MSS L-Band license to add an MSS system (“SkyTerra Next”) that will be hosted on AST SpaceMobile’s satellite constellation in low Earth orbit (LEO) and complement the company’s existing geostationary SkyTerra operations. Introducing NGSO technology within the L-Band will enable more efficient and intensive use of mid-band spectrum, supporting the industry’s evolution from niche applications to widespread high throughput low latency D2D services. This advancement will foster a competitive D2D market, promote innovation and vendor diversity, and accelerate the development of new use cases – ultimately driving progress towards universal broadband connectivity.

The Bottom Line

Our vision is clear: to harness our assets—spectrum, satellite infrastructure, and strategic partnerships—to unlock the full potential of space-based mobile connectivity. By enabling innovation, expanding consumer choice, and fostering market competition, we are making space-based services an integral part of the mobile ecosystem and everyday life.

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Voice and Push-To-Talk: The Original Lifeline

For more than 25 years, �������’s MSAT Push-To-Talk (PTT) has empowered first responders to communicate instantly across the continent at the push of a button. PTT laid the groundwork for interoperability, enabling talkgroups to connect responders across agencies and jurisdictions. Today, MSAT-PTT continues to serve federal law enforcement, first responders, and emergency management operations in both the United States and Canada. Whether battling wildfires or coordinating disaster relief, responders depend on MSS to stay connected when it matters most.

First Generation Direct to Device SOS: Empowering the Public

With the introduction of Direct-to-Device (D2D) SOS services, ������� is currently supporting the next leap in satellite connectivity bringing emergency communication out of the realm of specialized gear and into everyday consumer devices like smartphones. For the first time, individuals can reach help from virtually anywhere, whether stranded in remote wilderness or caught in an urban outage—no bulky satellite phones or technical know-how required. �������’s satellite network now supports millions of MSS devices across the U.S. and Canada, acting as a resilient lifeline that ensures people can reach help from virtually anywhere.

Next Generation: Multi-Orbit Safety and Seamless Interoperability

As MSS enters its next chapter, multi-orbit satellite architectures promise to redefine resilience. By adding advanced low-Earth orbit coverage, next-generation systems will enable mobile broadband speeds and low latency services, unlocking powerful new capabilities:

• Reliable connectivity during outages and disasters
• Real-time data and location intelligence for faster, smarter response
• Integrated voice-to-mobile services across satellite and cellular networks
• Seamless coordination with terrestrial emergency systems
• Equitable access to alerts and services for rural and Indigenous communities
• Live video streaming from drones and body cams to command centers
• Telemedicine support for paramedics in the field

In short, ubiquitous high-speed data turns public safety from reactive to proactive—enabling a faster, smarter, and more inclusive response to emergencies of all kinds.

The Bottom Line

This evolution isn’t just about technology—it’s about trust. A safety net that’s always above us, always on, and always ready.

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Propagation and Performance

Reaching everyday smartphones—devices with small antennas and limited power—is the central challenge of D2D. L-band spectrum, originally designated for MSS connectivity precisely for its optimal propagation characteristics, addresses this with unmatched effectiveness, serving as the backbone of today’s early D2D services—and the launchpad for tomorrow’s broadband satellite experiences.

Seamless Integration with Terrestrial Networks

D2D’s promise lies in its ability to extend terrestrial 5G networks within the contours of the mobile ecosystem. Adjacent to cellular bands and ITU-harmonized globally, the L-band is 3GPP-standarized for non-terrestrial services and uniquely positioned to seamlessly integrate within mass-market devices, mobile operator service offers, and enhanced user service experiences.

Ubiquitous Coverage and Continuity

While many D2D operators aim to reuse terrestrial cellular spectrum in underutilized areas, this approach breaks down at the edges of terrestrial network coverage. In these potential dead zones—just outside of terrestrial coverage or where signal strength drops to one or two bars—reuse is impractical as it negatively impacts the terrestrial network coverage and capacity.  �������’s MSS spectrum offers a clean, scalable overlay, making L-band not just a supplement—but a strategic necessity—for delivering D2D where it’s needed most.

Bandwidth to Scale

After years of spectrum planning and investment, ������� has coordinated over 40 MHz of L-band spectrum for mobile satellite services in the U.S. and Canada—strategically organized into high-efficiency 10 MHz blocks. This scaled spectrum configuration aligns with 3GPP NTN standards for channelization, readily unlocking the performance needed for true mobile broadband satellite connectivity.

The Bottom Line    

Direct-to-device satellite connectivity will redefine mobile service in the coming decade—but only if it is built on spectrum that can truly support user expectations. MSS L-Band spectrum is not just a technical enabler; it is the cornerstone of scalable, resilient, economically viable D2D connectivity.

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