NTN Is Scaling Faster Than Its Business Case
RCR Wireless News, Thursday, October 15th, 2026
Satellite direct-to-device services are spreading quickly, but the economics behind non-terrestrial networks lag behind.
Non-terrestrial networks have moved from proprietary islands to early commercial direct-to-device services in dozens of countries, but the economics have not kept up.
CCS Insight's Luke Pearce told RCR's NTN Integration Forum that consumer willingness to pay is real but modest, the add-on model does not work in low-ARPU markets, and constellations for continuous broadband are very capital intensive.
Demand drivers include operators seeking growth beyond 5G and governments mandating coverage, while cheaper launches and 3GPP standardization help supply.
Panelists discussed how open standards, partnerships and regulatory alignment could turn the technology into a commercial-scale business.