What Is Direct‑to‑Cell Connectivity?
Direct‑to‑cell (or direct‑to‑device) satellite services enable regular smartphones to connect directly to satellites without requiring special hardware — such as dedicated satellite handsets or additional receivers. This means users can access voice, SMS, and data services via satellite even in regions lacking reliable terrestrial infrastructure — a key advantage in remote, rural, or underserved markets.
Orange said it plans to conduct demonstrations of voice, SMS, and data connectivity in Romania in late 2026, marking a tangible step toward commercial rollout.
Strengthening a Multi‑Vendor Satellite Strategy
The partnership with AST adds to Orange’s expanding roster of satellite collaborators, which already includes European operators Eutelsat and SES, as well as U.S.‑based Starlink and Canada’s Telesat. This multi‑vendor approach enables Orange to select the most appropriate satellite partner for a given market based on specific conditions like satellite coverage, ground gateways and local smartphone penetration. It also builds resilience, ensuring connectivity remains available even during emergencies.
An Orange spokesperson told Reuters the company plans to expand satellite‑to‑smartphone operations across European and African markets, tailoring partnerships to local needs.
Satellite Connect Europe: A European Base for Direct Mobile Satellites
Formed in November 2025, Satellite Connect Europe aims to build a Europe‑centric satellite constellation with an operational centre in Germany, serving both commercial and government mobile connectivity applications. As a joint venture between AST and Vodafone, it seeks to offer a sovereign alternative to non‑European satellite networks while enabling operators like Orange to plug into a shared infrastructure.
The European Telecom Satellite Race
Orange is far from alone in pursuing satellite‑augmented mobile services. A number of European operators have also forged partnerships to bring direct satellite connectivity to consumers:
- In the UK, Virgin Media O2 recently launched O2 Satellite, a direct satellite‑to‑phone service using Starlink’s network to extend mobile coverage to around 95% of the country’s landmass, including messaging and data via compatible smartphones.
- Kyivstar in Ukraine has introduced one of Europe’s first satellite direct‑to‑cell services in partnership with Starlink.
These developments reflect a broader industry shift toward integrating terrestrial mobile networks with satellite connectivity to provide ubiquitous service and improve coverage in hard‑to‑reach areas.
Orange’s Push for European Satellite Sovereignty
Orange CEO Christel Heydemann has been a vocal advocate for European technological autonomy, especially in satellite communications. She has called for competitiveness for European initiatives such as the EU’s planned IRIS² satellite constellation project — intended to provide secure, resilient connectivity across Europe — so that they can stand alongside global systems like Starlink or upcoming services from companies such as Amazon.
IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) — a flagship satellite programme under development by the European Union and its space partners — aims to deploy around 290 satellites by the end of the decade to support secure communications for governments, businesses and citizens.
What This Means for Users and Markets
The Orange–AST partnership signals a major step toward making satellite connectivity a standard extension of mobile networks, rather than a niche service. By enabling smartphones to connect directly to satellites, operators can offer more reliable service in remote or disaster‑affected areas, support emergency communications, and bridge digital divides that conventional cellular networks cannot fully address.
As European governments and operators race to develop sovereign satellite capabilities, these collaborations will likely shape the future of connectivity — blending space‑based and terrestrial networks into a seamless global ecosystem.