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In sum, what to know:
-Cellular operators need extra management over satellite tv for pc connectivity and are taking steps to get it, based on a brand new report from GSMA Intelligence.
-The NTN market is rising, however most deployments stay within the testing part.
-Competitors and consolidation are reshaping the satellite tv for pc ecosystem.
A current three way partnership amongst U.S. cellular community operators to put money into Non-Terrestrial Networks is likely one of the indicators pointing to MNOs’ want to have higher management over the satellite tv for pc layer that they’re including to their networks, based on GMSA Intelligence.
In Could, U.S. operators AT&T, Verizon and T-Cellular US introduced that that they had an settlement in precept for a JV involving joint funding, pooling of spectrum assets, and cooperative improvement on NTN direct-to-device applied sciences that they promised would “almost remove lifeless zones within the U.S. presently with out cellular service.” The companions did observe that the JV could be along with current carrier-satellite agreements and that JV companions might additionally pursue their very own, impartial satellite tv for pc connectivity initiatives.
“With the growth of satellite tv for pc constellations, quickly to be supported by a number of space-based operators, this JV will use expanded capability and improved efficiency to ship the absolute best service to prospects. This partnership can even make it simpler for satellite tv for pc operators to ship a broader vary of direct-to-device experiences and assist speed up innovation throughout the wi-fi and satellite tv for pc industries,” mentioned Srini Gopalan, president and CEO of T-Cellular US, in a press release on the time.
Based on GSMA Intelligence’s most lately printed NTN Tracker, that JV supplies the “strongest sign but that telcos need higher management of the satellite tv for pc layer.”
“The large three U.S. cellular operators coming collectively is much less about changing current carrier-satellite partnerships, and extra about giving operators extra management, choices and affect over how satellite tv for pc capability is deployed. A shared neutral-host mannequin means operators aren’t relying solely on exterior suppliers,” mentioned Tim Hatt, head of analysis and consulting at GSMA Intelligence and one of many report’s authors. “It additionally offers MNOs a technique to blunt the aggressive impression from Starlink, by making certain they’ve entry to satellite-enabled protection and capability on extra favorable phrases. It additionally strengthens the place of wholesale gamers resembling AST SpaceMobile, which presently has 39 deliberate operator partnerships regardless of an preliminary constellation of seven satellites. Viasat and Space42 are additionally opting for the same route with the deliberate three way partnership, Equatys. We consider this mannequin will turn into the blueprint for different nations. Satellite tv for pc suppliers will shift focus in direction of infrastructure and capacity-sharing somewhat than unique bilateral partnerships.”
The report discovered that operators now common 1.5 satellite tv for pc partnerships every. However MNOs’ want for extra management of NTN runs up towards a distinct and equally highly effective pattern: geopolitical tensions and needs for sovereignty.
“Sovereignty, safety and data-residency issues have gotten strategic determination elements” in the case of satellite tv for pc partnerships, the report concluded—and regional needs for management of knowledge and satellite tv for pc communications push operators towards multi-partner relationships. China has been creating its personal NTN constellations for a while, and in Europe, there may be additionally wariness of relying too closely on U.S. infrastructure or firms like Starlink. Olivier Roussat, CEO of Bouygues Group (guardian firm of Bouygues Telecom), has informed CNBC’s Squawk Field Europe that “Europe doesn’t notice precisely how harmful it’s to only depend on the American infrastructure.”
Most MNOs’ NTN companies are nonetheless within the testing part
The GSMA Intelligence NTN Tracker additionally illustrated the state of the NTN market. As of June 2026, 132 operators around the globe had both established relationships to offer satellite tv for pc service or have been working a constellation. Of these, 89 have been nonetheless within the planning and/or testing part, with 43 of them dwell.
One of the vital current introduced checks has come from Vodafone Eire, which introduced earlier this month that it had efficiently examined NTN connectivity for emergency responders utilizing AST SpaceMobile’s community; the testing was carried out in cooperation with Eire’s Workplace of the Authorities Chief Data Officer and Satellite tv for pc Join Europe, which is Vodafone’s three way partnership with AST SpaceMobile.
The take a look at was carried out on Clare Island, County Mayo, which has rugged terrain that Vodafone Eire known as an “very best real-world setting for testing applied sciences designed to help tourism, rural communities and significant nationwide infrastructure.”
Consolidation, and Kuiper to return
In the meantime, the NTN market itself continues to shift. Satellite tv for pc operator Iridium is being acquired by RocketLab in a deal valuing Iridium at $8 billion. SpaceX had an eye-popping IPO, however its inventory value has since slid, with buyers’ curiosity in house shares apparently waning over its first month available on the market. And Amazon’s extremely anticipated Amazon Leo (previously referred to as Venture Kuiper) is steadily constructing momentum towards business service, promising a market shake-up.
Kuiper has been quickly increasing its satellite tv for pc constellation since April of final 12 months, and as of June 2026, has launched greater than 375 satellites—which the corporate says makes it the third-largest constellation in orbit. It already has partnerships with teams like DP World to make use of its LEO-based satellite tv for pc service for connectivity at golf tournaments around the globe. Amazon Leo “is clearly probably the most necessary new entrants to observe, largely as a result of it’s the closest in scale to Starlink outdoors China and advantages from Amazon’s deep assets and vertical integration,” mentioned Hatt. “That mentioned, its near-term impression is more likely to be extra strategic than operational.”
He identified that whereas Amazon added about 150 satellites to its constellation throughout the second quarter, GSMA Intelligence’s NTN Tracker exhibits that Amazon’s LEO capability will stay “largely latent” till it integrates Globalstar’s MSS spectrum, which can come to the corporate as a part of its pending $11.6 billion acquisition of GlobalStar. That monetary transaction isn’t anticipated to shut till 2027, with service growth anticipated within the 2027-2028 timeframe.
“Firms will definitely be factoring Amazon’s entrance into their long-term pondering, notably because it might enhance stress on smaller gamers to companion, consolidate or specialize,” Hatt added. “However for now, the market remains to be partly in wait-and-see mode, with Starlink persevering with to set the tempo and Amazon’s actual impression depending on how properly it integrates and performs when it goes to market.”
For extra insights on the NTN ecosystem, be a part of RCRTech on September 8 for NTN Integration Discussion board.