Fifty-six percent of mobile phone users in the United States said that they would pay extra to be able to link to satellites from their devices, according to a new report conducted by GSMA Intelligence.
The portion of U.S. subscribers willing to pay a premium for direct-to-device (D2D) capabilities was smaller than in other countries, according to the report, which included the views of more than 12,000 mobile phone users.
The report, entitled “The Great Connectivity Convergence: NTN in Consumer Mobile,” found that 56% of respondents in the United States were willing to pay more for D2D satellite capabilities. The international average is more than 60%. One driver in the U.S. is that it has among the highest share of users (23%) unable to use basic SMS services at least five times per month.
“This data highlights frustration with mobile blackspots and shows that consumers are willing to pay or even switch providers for reliable coverage,” Andy Kessler, Vice President Viasat Enterprise, said in a press release about the mobile report.
“This means the industry is reaching an inflection point — MNOs need to move fast to harness the excitement over satellite services to secure loyalty and generate revenue. This is about more than providing a feature upgrade — it can be an essential tool for digital inclusion, safety, and economic growth.”
Tim Hatt, the Head of Research & Consulting for GSMA, was quoted in the press release as saying that there is a race between operators and satellite services to be the first to deliver D2D services at scale.
The report dovetails with one recently released by Market Research Intellect. It said that between last year and 2033 the global commercial broadband satellite sector was valued at $13.5 billion in 2024 and will reach $29.8 billion by the end of the study period. The company said growth will be “remarkable” and that the sector will experience a 9.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between next year and 2033.
