Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) — satellite-direct connectivity — have stepped out of the standards document and into live commercial service in 2026, opening coverage where terrestrial infrastructure is uneconomic.
A Busy 2026
- China Mobile launched its “02 satellite” and, with Qianfan, a phone-direct test satellite on 9 June 2026 from Jiuquan, for direct-to-phone and space-terrestrial fusion trials.
- SoftBank switched on “SoftBank Starlink Direct” across Japan on 10 April 2026 — messaging, data and emergency comms to 82 compatible devices at no extra cost.
- T-Mobile and SpaceX Starlink progressed from SMS beta to commercial direct-to-cell data covering over 500,000 square miles of previously unserved US territory.
Standards and Silicon
3GPP Release 17 NTN is finalized and Release 18 enhancements are underway. NTN primarily uses bands n255 (L-band) and n256 (S-band). MediaTek’s MT6825 and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80 (with native NB-NTN) show the chipset ecosystem maturing fast.
Implications for Routers
NTN-capable CPE lets a single device serve both terrestrial and satellite coverage — simplifying inventory and extending service to rural, maritime and disaster-recovery scenarios. Our outdoor and marine router lines are positioned to ride this convergence.