LONDON, January 18, 2026, 11:31 GMT
- Eutelsat signed a multi-launch deal with MaiaSpace to start launching OneWeb LEO satellites in 2027.
- Qualcomm previously lined up six Android phone makers to develop devices with Snapdragon Satellite messaging.
- Standards-based “direct-to-handset” links are gaining traction, but timelines and uptake remain uncertain.
European satellite operator Eutelsat said it has signed a multi-launch agreement with French startup MaiaSpace for future launches of its low-Earth-orbit satellites starting in 2027. MaiaSpace, a unit of ArianeGroup, is developing a partially reusable launcher that would mark a first for Europe. Eutelsat owns OneWeb, the only other operational low-orbit constellation besides SpaceX’s Starlink. (Reuters)
The push for launch slots and satellite capacity is picking up as companies race to extend mobile coverage from space, including to ordinary smartphones. Starlink last year sealed what it described as its biggest “direct-to-cell” deal with telecoms group Veon, pitching satellites that work like cellphone towers to widen coverage beyond terrestrial networks. (Reuters)
Qualcomm, whose chips power many Android handsets, has been chasing the same off-grid messaging niche. At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March 2023, it named Honor, Motorola, Nothing, Oppo, vivo and Xiaomi as early partners for devices using Snapdragon Satellite, which connects to Iridium’s low-Earth-orbit network for emergency messaging and SMS text. Qualcomm executive Francesco Grilli described Iridium as a “mature” LEO constellation for the job. (Uktin)
Qualcomm introduced Snapdragon Satellite at CES in January 2023 and said the first devices would arrive in select regions in the second half of that year, starting with phones using its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform. Messages would be routed through Iridium’s satellites, with Garmin set to coordinate emergency response services, Qualcomm said. Apple has pursued satellite emergency communications on iPhones through satellite firm Globalstar. (Reuters)
The early wave of proprietary satellite-to-phone projects has since run into a basic problem: handset makers and carriers have pushed for standards-based approaches, rather than systems tied to a single network. When Qualcomm and Iridium ended their previous satellite chip partnership in 2023, Peter Kibutu, advanced technology lead for non-terrestrial networks at consultancy TTP, said “proprietary satellite technology” should be seen as a short-term solution. (Telecoms)
Standards work has kept moving. In late 2024, Deutsche Telekom, Skylo and Qualcomm said they completed an end-to-end SMS test over satellite using 3GPP Release 17 — the 5G standards package that adds support for “non-terrestrial networks,” or NTN, a term for satellite links. Qualcomm’s Dino Flore said the effort “achieved NB-NTN direct-to-handset messaging,” using a narrowband, low-data-rate satellite connection suited to texts and alerts. (Skylo)
In September 2024, Skylo said it would bring satellite messaging, location sharing and SOS features to smartphones using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80 Modem-RF system, aiming to make satellite links feel like a built-in coverage extension rather than a specialist add-on. Grilli called it an “impressive moment” for cellular connectivity, while Skylo CTO Andrew Nuttall said satellite access can give users “peace of mind” when they lose terrestrial coverage. (Skylo)
Qualcomm has also tried to broaden satellite connectivity beyond handsets, pointing to wearables as a natural next step for emergency messaging. In an August 2025 post, the company said its Snapdragon X80 modem introduced support for both terrestrial and satellite networks and can transmit emergency data from devices designed for always-on use, including on the wrist. (Qualcomm)
For Eutelsat, more launch options matter because it is rebuilding and extending OneWeb’s fleet. Earlier this month, Eutelsat and Airbus said the operator ordered 340 new low-Earth-orbit satellites, taking the contracted total to 440, with deliveries expected to start at the end of 2026. (Reuters)
But turning satellite links into a mass-market phone feature has been slower than the early pitch: extra radio parts, service fees, and uneven regulation can all weigh on adoption, and users still need a clear view of the sky. Qualcomm ended its direct-to-device deal with Iridium after smartphone makers did not adopt the satellite-compatible chips, and analysts pointed to cost and the lack of common standards as headwinds. (Via Satellite)
Even so, European operators keep testing the edge cases. Vodafone said in January 2025 it made what it called the world’s first satellite video call using a standard smartphone from a remote location, and it planned to roll out the technology across Europe later and into 2026. (Reuters)
