170 operator–satellite NTN partnerships in 80 countries and territories, GSA data shows
Starlink leads the provider landscape with 44 partnerships
GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) today published its most up-to-date report on the global status of Non-Terrestrial 5G Networks and Satellite Connectivity. By August 2025, there were 170 publicly announced operator–satellite partnerships in 80 countries and territories, with 34 operators in 25 markets having launched commercial services. The report also confirms that Starlink leads the provider landscape with 44 partnerships, followed by AST SpaceMobile and Lynk. In spectrum, Ka-band remains the most widely used frequency range, supporting both feeder and service links. L- and S-bands are increasingly important for direct-to-cell applications.
From rural broadband to direct-to-cell, the GSA data confirms satellite connectivity is moving from niche to mainstream. Rural and enterprise broadband remains the dominant application, accounting for half of all partnerships. Satellite-to-cellphone services are expanding quickly, with 12 launches and 24 trials or licensed projects, driven by players like SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile and Lynk, enabling unmodified smartphones to connect in remote areas.
The latest GSA report Non-Terrestrial 5G Networks and Satellite Connectivity (September 2025) is published today. A free executive summary is available to all registered users of the GSA website. GSA Members and Associates can download the exclusive Member-only report and detailed annex of Operators’ satellite partnerships. Non-members can also purchase the report, which includes detailed maps, charts and tables on data such as:
- Partnerships working on satellite-based rural and enterprise broadband services, by status
- Countries and territories with partnerships for satellite-based rural and enterprise broadband, by status
- Partnerships working on satellite-to-cellphone technology, by status
- Countries and territories with satellite-to-cellphone partnerships, by status
- Countries and territories with IoT and M2M partnerships, by status
- Partnerships working on IoT and M2M services based on satellite connectivity, by status
- Publicly announced partnerships by satellite provider
- Number of satellite vendors by country or territory
- Satellite providers’ use of frequency bands
- The 3GPP radio access network road mapSmartphones with Satellite Connectivity
Joe Barrett, President of Global mobile Suppliers Association, commented: “Today there are a limited but growing number of smartphones supporting satellite connectivity. Overall, the findings in the GSA’s latest NTN market report point to an evolving landscape where satellite services are moving from niche to mainstream, with strong growth expected in broadband and direct-to-cell offerings, and slower but steady expansion in IoT applications. From spectrum usage to satellite-operator partnerships, our latest report examines how the satellite connectivity landscape is set to evolve in the rest of 2025 and beyond. And in such a dynamic market, access to this latest data can be critical to business planning and success.”
Full and unlimited access to the detailed data behind this report is available to all employees of GSA Member and GSA Associate organisations subscribing to the GAMBoD database. To understand more about the full benefits of becoming a GSA Associate and the breadth and depth of data in the GSA’s 7 GAMBoD databases, please visit: https://members.gsacom.com
About the data
This report draws on public information collected by the GSA, focusing on the number of announced mobile network operator and satellite provider partnerships; uses; commercial status; geographic availability; and frequency bands being earmarked for non-terrestrial network (NTN) use.