The GSMA is teaming up with the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) to work on connecting terrestrial and space-based networks, which they say will create ‘a new era of ubiquitous global connectivity.’
The MSSA, if you hadn’t heard of it, is a non-profit association whose founding members include Viasat, Terrestar Solutions, Ligado Networks, Omnispace and Yahsat. It describes its purpose as ‘facilitating the integration and evolution of terrestrial and satellite mobile networks to deliver scalable, sustainable, and affordable high-performance cellular-like services to any device, anytime, anywhere in the world.’
It and the GSMA will ‘explore approaches’ to integrating D2D and IoT services via satellites using 3GPP standards, and say they want to facilitate an ecosystem where interoperable systems connect terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.
One specific ambition they refer to is to enhance the efficiency and scalability of satellite comms, making deployments more cost-effective. By forging cooperative agreements with operators, ‘a new dimension of mobile services can be enabled, empowering consumers and enterprises with seamless satellite-augmented capabilities,’ we’re told.
