Viasat unveils smartphone connectivity via satellite first in Mexico | Computer Weekly

"Deploying networks based on satellites to offer communications mobile devices has been one of the key trends of 2025, and in what is seen as an in-country first of its kind, Viasat has completed a direct-to-device (D2D) demonstration in Mexico, featuring native SMS messages on a standard smartphone. Viasat regards D2D as an emerging technology that allows everyday devices such as mobile phones to connect to satellites without the need for dedicated satellite hardware."

"The technology follows global mobile 3GPP release 17 standards, which are being adopted by satellite operators, mobile network operators, and handset and chipset manufacturers. The demonstration showcased smartphones sending and receiving messages over Viasat's I-4 F3 satellite using 3GPP non-terrestrial network (NTN) standards. In a country-first, native SMS messages were shared across two mass-market Android smartphones, with one connected via satellite and the other to a traditional cellular network."

"Viasat also demonstrated satellite connectivity - including SMS and push-to-talk capabilities - using the HMD Offgrid, a companion device and the Bullitt application. All messages were sent and received using Viasat's global, L-band satellite capabilities, enabled by 3GPP standards-based NTN RAN and Core infrastructure from Skylo, a Viasat ecosystem partner. Skylo uses dedicated, licensed mobile satellite spectrum for connectivity that avoids network interference with terrestrial signals, and ensures ubiquitous coverage for customers in rural or rugged areas."

Viasat completed a direct-to-device (D2D) demonstration in Mexico that delivered native SMS messages on standard Android smartphones via satellite. The D2D approach follows 3GPP Release 17 non-terrestrial network (NTN) standards enabling everyday mobile phones to connect to satellites without dedicated satellite hardware. The demonstration used Viasat's I-4 F3 satellite and Skylo's standards-based NTN RAN and Core infrastructure over licensed L-band mobile satellite spectrum. Messages were exchanged between a phone connected via satellite and another on a terrestrial cellular network, and the company also showed SMS and push-to-talk through an HMD Offgrid companion device and the Bullitt application. Viasat noted prior successful D2D demos in India, the Middle East, Brazil and Hawaii and emphasized compatibility with mobile network operators.

Read at ComputerWeekly.com