Deutsche Telekom, Qualcomm, and Skylo, have announced the successful completion of a pioneering end-to-end trial for sending and receiving SMS messages over a GEO satellite network. This marks the first time in Europe that a terrestrial mobile network has been integrated with satellite technology to enable SMS services, based on the 3GPP Release 17 specifications for Direct-to-Handset (D2H) connectivity.
Deutsche Telekom’s subsidiary, Cosmote, conducted the trial in Greece. It demonstrated how satellite connectivity can extend mobile coverage to areas without access to traditional terrestrial networks, offering SMS functionality in remote and underserved regions. Integrating Skylo’s non-terrestrial network (NTN) with Cosmote’s production network is a significant step toward commercializing operator-native NTN services in Europe.
The test involved sending an SMS from a device with a Cosmote SIM card using Skylo’s satellite network within the Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum. The device, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon® X-80 5G Modem-RF System, is seamlessly connected to terrestrial 5G networks and boasts satellite access, enabling consistent roaming between the two networks. This innovative solution leverages licensed MSS spectrum to provide ubiquitous connectivity across Europe, addressing challenges such as cross-border spectrum coordination.
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Satellite SMS Trial Enhances Remote Connectivity
The technology will allow customers in white spots (areas without cellular coverage) to send and receive text messages globally via satellite, ensuring communication even in rural or rugged environments. It also holds promise for emergency response and disaster recovery scenarios.
Antje Williams, SVP of Business Creation, Group Technology at Deutsche Telekom, emphasized the importance of this development, “Our customers want to stay connected wherever they are. Direct-to-handset satellite messaging will be a valuable extension of our mobile networks, allowing users to text from anywhere without needing separate apps.”
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Parthsarathi Trivedi, CEO of Skylo, added, “We are proud to partner with Deutsche Telekom and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to showcase the first direct-to-handset texts over satellite in Europe. Soon, subscribers won’t have to think twice about coverage before texting, whether they’re on a remote island in Greece or venturing in regions without cell coverage; it’ll be a part of their cellular service. The future of satellite connectivity is [strongly integrated] into carrier networks, and we’re excited to partner with Deutsche Telekom which has been paving the way for these new services.”
Dino Flore, Vice President of Technology at Qualcomm Europe, highlighted the role of Qualcomm’s advanced Snapdragon X-80 5G Modem-RF System in making this milestone possible. “We are pleased to announce our collaboration with Deutsche Telekom and Skylo on this significant milestone in Europe. We look forward to working with our partners to enhance satellite connectivity for consumers,” he said.
The successful completion of this trial marks a key milestone in the integration of satellite networks with cellular services, paving the way for a new era of seamless, global mobile connectivity.
