Viasat, Inc., a global leader in satellite communications, has completed an in-country, first-of-its-kind direct-to-device demonstration in the republic of Uzbekistan – featuring application-based messaging on an Android smartphone.
The demonstration showcased smartphones sending and receiving messages over Viasat’s highly reliable L-band satellite network using
3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) standards. In a country-first, application-based messages were shared across two mass-market
Android smartphones, with one connected via satellite using a companion device, and the other to a traditional terrestrial cellular network.
D2D is a growing communications technology which allows everyday devices like mobile phones, vehicles, and IoT devices to connect
to satellites, without the need for dedicated satellite terminals. The technology follows global mobile 3GPP release standards, which are
being actively adopted by satellite operators, mobile network operators, chipset, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
The demos showcase the potential for satellites to expand connectivity to cell phones, vehicles, and industrial IoT devices within the country. Viasat’s approach – using its existing satellite fleet using dedicated Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum – enables the
company to work with mobile network operators and ecosystem vendors to provide services without sacrificing terrestrial spectrum or
interfering with cellular networks.
“Countries emerging as technology leaders like the Republic of Uzbekistan are rightly excited about the potential for Non-Terrestrial Networks.” said Sandeep Moorthy, Senior Vice President, Advanced Non-Terrestrial Solutions at Viasat. “Through standards-
based satellite connectivity, we can bring connectivity to millions more devices in areas currently underserved by cellular networks, with benefits for safety, sustainability and efficiency. We are delighted to be showcasing this potential with the Ministry and UZ-SAT, and would like to thank them for their continued collaboration.”
Viasat is already addressing the expanding NTN market from multiple perspectives; completing consumer mobile demonstrations in
multiple countries and working with automotive vendors to bring satellite connectivity to the sector.
The company has also announced it is working with Space42, the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company, to form Equatys – a
jointly held entity – to enable global D2D services and evolve existing Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) to a 5G network environment.
