GSA Reports NTN Momentum Building as Global Partnerships Top 225
A new February 2026 report from the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has highligheds accelerating adoption of non-terrestrial networks (NTN), with satellite connectivity increasingly embedded in cellular strategies worldwide.
As of January 2026, the GSA has recorded 225 publicly announced operator–satellite partnerships across 88 countries and territories, underscoring rising demand for hybrid space–terrestrial coverage.
Direct-to-device services gaining traction
Satellite-to-smartphone connectivity continues to dominate headlines, with 16 partnerships already launching commercial services, while 25 are in trial phases and 53 more are planned — signalling further rollouts through 2026 and beyond. Although Asia and North America initially led deployments, Europe and South America are now joining the wave.
Broadband still leading, but IoT is catching up
Community and enterprise broadband account for roughly 45% of partnerships, reflecting the maturity of the segment. However, satellite IoT is beginning to scale, with providers such as Skylo Technologies and OQ Technology emerging as key ecosystem players.
Constellation activity expanding globally
The United States currently hosts the largest number of satellite vendors, including SpaceX’s Starlink and AST SpaceMobile, while the UK and China each count five constellations. Additional systems are either planned or underway in markets such as Australia, India, and Spain.
Device ecosystem still developing
Despite the surge in partnerships, device availability remains constrained. Only a limited number of products support 3GPP narrowband NTN standards, though some constellations are leveraging IMT spectrum that could theoretically enable compatibility with standard 4G and 5G smartphones.
The bottom line seems to be that NTN is shifting from concept to deployment, with expanding partnerships, growing regional adoption, and early signs of a broader device ecosystem; setting the stage for a more integrated global connectivity landscape.