UK Regulator Greenlights D2D Satellite Services
UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has formally opened the door to direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity on standard smartphones, after it issued its final regulatory decisions enabling mobile operators to partner with satellite companies and use existing mobile spectrum for space-based services.
Under the new framework, UK mobile operators can integrate satellites into their networks to deliver calls, texts, and data in mobile “not-spots,” using unmodified smartphones.
Key points include:
Use of mobile spectrum for satellite links, under strict interference-mitigation conditions;
A streamlined process for operators to request licence variations;
No licence required for consumers using D2D services.
O2 (Virgin Media O2) plans to launch D2D services with Starlink beginning early 2026, while Vodafone has partnered with AST SpaceMobile to bring space-based coverage to its customers.
This positions the UK to become the first country in Western Europe with broad operator-satellite deployments, following early widescale adoption in Ukraine, where D2D connectivity has supported emergency resilience during wartime network disruptions.
D2D satellite capability promises to eliminate many rural blackspots, provide backup communications during outages, and extend resilience for emergency services, all using ordinary smartphones.
Ofcom said the move will “make remote and rural areas better connected than ever before,” enabling everything from navigation and messaging on wilderness hikes to improved business and community connectivity.