Deutsche Telekom, Skylo and Qualcomm Demonstrate Satellite SMS for Smartphones

Deutsche Telekom, Qualcomm, and satellite network provider Skylo have successfully completed a trial enabling SMS send and receipt over GEO satellite directly from standard smartphones. This marks the first instance in Europe where an operator's terrestrial mobile network has been integrated with a satellite network to facilitate texting based on 3GPP's Direct-to-Handset (D2H) specifications.

The operator-native NB-NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) D2H approach integrates mobile operator terrestrial networks with Skylo's satellite network, ensuring coverage even in areas lacking traditional cellular service. The proof-of-concept was conducted in Greece through Deutsche Telekom's subsidiary Cosmote. The goal is to provide customers with global coverage for sending and receiving text messages using regular devices without separate applications.

"Our customers want to always stay connected. Direct-to-handset will be an add-on to our mobile networks allowing our customers to easily text from anywhere on their regular devices," said Antje Williams, SVP Business Creation, Group Technology, Deutsche Telekom. The integration of satellite and cellular networks with partners is just the beginning.

Qualcomm provided the Snapdragon X80 5G Modem-RF System, which enabled the satellite connectivity. The technical implementation utilized Skylo's satellite network and Cosmote's production network, ensuring a seamless transition between terrestrial and satellite networks. The use of dedicated, licensed Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum ensures service availability across Europe, beneficial for remote areas and emergency situations.