Hampshire, UK – 2nd December 2025: A new study by global tech strategist Juniper Research has found satellite provider revenue from direct-to-cell (D2C) will exceed $370 million in 2026; up from $100 million this year.
This substantial single-year growth of more than 260% is fuelled by growing partnerships between mobile network operators (MNOs) and satellite operators, which are rolling out services that let subscribers connect to satellite networks using standard, unmodified smartphones.
Juniper Research anticipates satellite operators will continue relying on partnerships with MNOs, as becoming full MNOs themselves is unlikely within the next five years. As a result, D2C technology should be viewed as complementary terrestrial networks rather than replacing them.
An extract from the new report, Direct to Satellite Market 2025-2030, is available as a free download.
Satellite Operators Need MNOs for Indoor Coverage
With Starlink acquiring over $17 billion of US and global spectrum in 2025, some have expected Starlink to pivot to a full MNO, and position itself to compete with its current partners. However, Juniper Research does not anticipate this occurring, as satellite operators will need to substantially invest in terrestrial coverage to provide high-quality indoor connectivity.
“A satellite-first MNO will struggle to provide connectivity services to consumers that are comparable to terrestrial MNOs. Satellite signals will be obstructed indoors, leaving subscribers with a disjointed connectivity service; reducing a service’s value,” says Alex Webb, Senior Research Analyst at Juniper Research. “We do not expect satellite operators to compete with MNOs in the consumer sector. We believe their best path to securing a return on investment in their satellite constellations lies with partnerships with incumbent MNOs.”
The new research suite offers the most comprehensive assessment of the direct to satellite market to date, including insightful market analysis and in-depth forecasts for over 60 countries. The dataset contains over 10,000 market statistics within a five-year period. It includes a ‘Competitor Leaderboard’ and an examination of current and future market opportunities.
About Juniper Research
Juniper Research is a global tech strategist firm providing research, data, and forecasting across the fintech, telecoms, and IoT sectors. For over 20 years, Juniper Research has delivered actionable insights that help industry leaders navigate disruption, seize opportunities, and make confident strategic decisions. https://www.juniperresearch.com
Please contact Sam Smith, Press Relations
T: +44(0)1256 830002
E: sam.smith@juniperresearch.com
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