Telekom, Skylo, Qualcomm and Cosmote allow sending and receiving SMS via satellite, directly from smartphones!
- The first successful tests of Direct to Handset (D2H) technology in Europe for sending SMS via satellite (NB-NTN Direct-to-Handset messaging)
Telekom , in collaboration with Qualcomm and Skylo , announced the successful completion of SMS exchange via geostationary satellite tests (GEO). These tests, which are an important step towards the commercial availability of NTN (Non-Terrestrial-Networks) services in Europe, were carried out in Greece, via the network of COSMOTE, a member of the Telekom Group. For the implementation, COSMOTE's terrestrial mobile network was interconnected with Skylo's satellite network, ensuring full coverage.
This is the first time in Europe that a terrestrial mobile network (COSMOTE) is functionally interconnected with a satellite network, offering SMS services via a direct connection of a satellite to a mobile phone (Direct-to-Handset-D2H). This solution, based on international standards (3GPP Release 17), allows users who do not have access to a terrestrial signal to send and receive SMS worldwide, via a satellite connection.
See also: COSMOTE Fiber: Free upload speed upgrade for an even better connectivity experience
Cosmote Network: SMS via satellite – Technical implementation
In these tests, the SMS was sent from a device with a COSMOTE SIM card via the Skylo satellite network , in the Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum, based on the specifications of 3GPP Release 17. The main advantage of the MSS spectrum is that it can be used on a pan-European basis, avoiding the difficulties of coordinating terrestrial spectrum at borders between countries.
To seamlessly roam a subscriber from the terrestrial 5G network to the satellite, Skylo's commercially available network was interconnected with COSMOTE's network. This ensures full coverage for customers in remote or inaccessible areas, while supporting communications in cases of emergency or natural disasters.
See also: COSMOTE: Even more affordable prices on Fiber To The Home plans through the Gigabit Voucher
About Telekom:
The Telekom Group operates in more than 50 countries, with over 252 million mobile customers, over 25 million fixed-line customers, over 22 million broadband customers and over 9 million pay-TV customers. It employs around 200 thousand people (31/12/2023) worldwide, while its revenues amounted to 112 billion euros in 2023. Today it is evolving into a modern digital service provider: a company that offers telecommunications services, ensuring, through its digitalization, the successful course of recent years. Something it has achieved thanks to its presence in Europe and the USA.
Telekom's vision is to become a leading Digital Telco. In this context, it is developing advanced fixed and mobile networks, offering fast and reliable internet both at home and on the go. In 2023 alone, it made record investments that reached 16.5 billion euros, mainly for the development of its infrastructure around the world.
“T” a global super-brand
“Connecting your world”. This is the central message and brand promise of Telekom, which wants to give people access to the digital world and the opportunities it offers, with the aim of making their lives easier. And as a reliable partner, it ensures that no one is left behind.
It is no coincidence that Telekom’s “T” brand is the brand telecommunications in the world and the top brand in Europe, according to the “Brand Finance Global 500” study for 2024, published by the British market research institute Brand Finance. The “T” brand is in ninth place among the ten most valuable brands in the world, making it the only European company in the top 10 of the global ranking.
