Bittium and Terrestar Partner to Deliver 5G D2D Connectivity

Finland’s Bittium and Canadian satellite operator Terrestar Solutions are advancing their collaboration to build a standards-based 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) service that allows standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites. The next phase of development, valued at €2 million, focuses on delivering SMS, chat, voice, and email services in remote areas without terrestrial coverage.

Unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2025, the platform supports NB-IoT functionality for smartphones and positions satellite as the “third mode” of mobile access, alongside terrestrial towers and Wi-Fi. The system is designed for interoperability within a hybrid satellite-terrestrial network, with Terrestar emphasizing data sovereignty through in-country traffic landing.

Bittium is supplying hardware and software optimized for compact, energy-efficient devices. As part of the collaboration, the companies are also integrating Terrestar’s Sat Companion—a bridge device that extends existing smartphones’ reach into satellite networks—while preparing for native NTN-capable handsets to enter the market.

Pilot deployments are planned throughout 2025, paving the way for Terrestar’s upcoming LEO constellation to serve Canada, Europe, and the Arctic. The network is architected with sovereign routing control, offering a secure NTN alternative for government and public-sector customers.

SOURCE: https://view.news.eu.nasdaq.com/view?id=b31c92a7cda50d015d2e1e1d193bad25f&lang=en&src=listed