By Marc Kavinsky, Lead Editor at IoT Business News.
OQ Technology and Telefónica Germany are gearing up to showcase two-way satellite communication that connects directly to everyday smartphones, all while relying on standard terrestrial mobile spectrum. This trial carries weight for Europe’s growing non-terrestrial network ambitions, as it brings together LEO satellites, licensed operator frequencies, and off-the-shelf consumer handsets.
Direct-to-device satellite connectivity has evolved beyond the basic question of whether a phone can pick up a satellite signal. Now, the real challenge lies in figuring out how satellite links can slot into mobile networks that are already tightly regulated, spectrum-limited, and commercially managed by terrestrial carriers. For stakeholders in the IoT and mobile ecosystem, this shift in focus is critical. The real value isn’t just about getting coverage from space—it’s about achieving coverage that integrates seamlessly without requiring specialized hardware in every device.
With this in mind, OQ Technology and Telefónica Germany are organizing a live trial in Germany to assess two-way communication between low Earth orbit satellites and regular, unmodified smartphones, including models from iPhone, Samsung, and Google. According to the companies, the test will center on messaging and voice services beamed directly from space, utilizing terrestrial mobile spectrum supplied by Telefónica Germany.
What sets this announcement apart is that it isn’t positioned as a standalone satellite service operating independently of mobile operators. OQ Technology intends to deploy its proprietary multi-band direct-to-device payload technology alongside Telefónica Germany’s licensed frequencies, with both parties examining how the satellite layer meshes with existing terrestrial mobile infrastructure. The planned evaluation covers achievable data throughput, spectrum coexistence, and direct-to-device communication scenarios in regions where extending ground-based infrastructure poses significant challenges.
A departure from proprietary satellite IoT models
What distinguishes this initiative from typical satellite IoT ventures is its reliance on standard handsets, mobile operator spectrum, and a 3GPP-compliant payload design. OQ Technology reports that its payload accommodates MSS S-band, C-band, and IMT bands, providing a technical pathway across both satellite-dedicated and mobile spectrum ranges. The company has already proven direct-to-device connectivity using MSS S-band spectrum and is gearing up for missions that span MSS S-band, C-band, and IMT spectrum to enable direct smartphone links.
This multi-band capability is a key differentiator. Conventional satellite IoT solutions typically require custom terminals, proprietary communication protocols, or specialized modules. In contrast, this project aligns more closely with an operator-driven non-terrestrial network framework, where the satellite layer augments the mobile network using standard devices. For mobile network operators, this approach maintains their authority over spectrum management and service integration, unlike models that sidestep terrestrial carriers altogether.
A practical takeaway emerges: if the end device stays a regular smartphone, the bulk of the technical burden shifts from hardware design to network integration, spectrum coordination, and service management. This represents a meaningful trade-off. While it lowers hurdles for users and device manufacturers, it demands more from operators and their satellite partners to ensure smooth coexistence with terrestrial networks and to determine when traffic should transition between ground and space connections.
Why the German trial is significant for IoT
The use case extends well beyond consumer emergency messaging. OQ Technology envisions its network supporting both direct-to-device and IoT NTN services, and the partnership also draws on prior work in IoT satellite connectivity for enterprise monitoring and communications. For industrial IoT, logistics, utilities, and public-sector applications, the most compelling aspect is maintaining service continuity in areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable, impractical, or prohibitively expensive to expand.
For device manufacturers, this development underscores the importance of prioritizing 3GPP NTN compatibility over relying solely on proprietary satellite solutions. For system integrators, hybrid terrestrial-satellite coverage could reshape how remote assets are designed, particularly in locations where cellular service is spotty rather than entirely absent. Enterprises, on the other hand, should see this technology as an added layer of resilience rather than a complete substitute for terrestrial cellular networks.
The European dimension is equally significant. The project is framed around sovereign satellite-mobile communications, with a European satellite operator and a German mobile network operator testing an architecture rooted in open standards and licensed spectrum. As NTN capabilities mature within 3GPP standardization and future 6G planning, trials like this will help determine how much of the satellite opportunity will be claimed by mobile operators, satellite specialists, device manufacturers, and IoT service providers.
While the planned trial alone won’t dictate the commercial future of direct-to-smartphone services in Europe, it does tackle one of the industry’s core questions: whether satellite connectivity can be woven into mobile networks in a way that honors existing spectrum rights, preserves device compatibility, and still delivers meaningful coverage in hard-to-reach areas. For IoT professionals, that’s a far more impactful test than yet another isolated demonstration of satellite reach.
