Direct to Cell Will Reach More than 130 Million Users per Month in 2031

Direct to cell is a rapidly emerging technology introduced to eliminate rural and remote dead zones for mobile subscribers. So far, mobile network operators including T-Mobile, KDDI, Rogers, Virgin Media O2, NTT Docomo, and more have launched direct to cell services to their customers in partnership with Space X’s Starlink; with further launches expected throughout the rest of the year.

As a result, Juniper Research projects the global number of unique active direct to cell users per month to rise from 17 million in 2026 to more than 130 million in 2031. Current direct to cell usage is heavily driven by mobile subscribers travelling to specific rural locations such as national parks and trusts. This trend can be seen in countries such as the US and UK where direct to cell usage data has concentrated around these locations. With trips to national parks and trusts often correlating to good weather Juniper Research expects there to be somewhat of a seasonal demand curve to the direct to cell market, with usage being highest in warm weather.
 
Mobile network operators are also accelerating early adoption by discounting paid subscriptions for direct to cell, offering free access for early months, and bundling direct to cell for free with premium mobile subscriptions. Juniper Research believes that the majority of direct to cell users will be premium subscribers with the service included in their mobile subscription, with the current high cost of paid subscriptions and intermittent usage by mobile subscribers reducing adoption of paid monthly subscriptions.

About the Infographic

The infographic shows the growing number of unique active direct to cell users each month; displaying global figures for the time period of 2026 to 2031. Direct to cell serves as an additional coverage layer for terrestrial cellular networks in rural and remote areas.

Source: Direct to Cell Market 2026-2031

Read the Press Release: Direct to Cell: Monthly Active Users to Reach Over 130 Million by 2031, But Usage Forecast to Be Lower Than Anticipated

Download the Whitepaper: No Tower? No Problem: How Direct to Cell is Rewriting the Rules of Connectivity