Reducing Barriers to Satellite Coverage Enhancement
The three major US Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) announced the formation of a Direct-to-Device Joint Venture to address the delivery of mobile services in underserved remote areas [link]. By leveraging satellite communications to provide coverage in sparsely populated, hard-to-reach geographies, the MNOs are supporting an important strategy for first-responder communications. While tools such as Compact Rapid Deployables (CRDs) and mini-CRDs are excellent adjuncts for teams deploying ad hoc mesh connectivity in these regions, Direct-to-Device coverage can make broadband access far easier to deploy.
The press release provides little detail on how operators will deliver traffic to end-users. And details matter. The pioneering T-Satellite capability, now operational at T-Mobile, requires explicit application support for connectivity. The resulting approval process creates friction that slows application developers. Hopefully, the JV will provide a transparent "bent pipe" type of connection that supplies simple IP transport with Quality of Service, Priority, and Pre-emption for responders on Verizon Frontline, FirstNet, Built with AT&T, and T-Mobile T-Priority plans. In a nation with seemingly endless expanses of wilderness, this JV is welcome news.
End User Impact
- Broader Access to Satellite Capability: With each MNO signing up for the JV, agencies will be in a position to put satellite access in the hands of all field users who can benefit from broadband access.
- A Boost for Situational Awareness: The Dingle Act mandated communications capabilities for wildland firefighters. The JV will make it easier to support tools such as Team Awareness Kit (TAK), Tablet Command, First Due, and hand-held software tools and trackers.
- Direct-to-Device Is Not Perfect: Access to a signal will not be possible from inside structures or, possibly, even vehicles. Mobile router devices such as the Ericsson R2400 with rooftop antennas will remain vital adjuncts for driving communications into nearby structures. But even that approach has limits, as the Wi-Fi signal from the router will fade if the building exterior has energy-efficient windows or the remote user is too deep in the structure.
Ecosystem Impact
- Devil is in the Details: The press release is missing the details on the technical framework for the JV. The unlikely worst case is that only SMS or voice calls are supported, not broadband. The exact parameters of service delivery -- speeds, priority support, and pricing -- will have a major bearing on eventual adoption.
- Satellite Support is Table Stakes for Many Agencies: Agencies do not have to be rural or remote to value the capability of direct-to-satellite device communications. Wide-scale disasters can threaten any type of agency, making satellite support a valuable contingency for enhanced resilience. Equipment suppliers should ensure the appropriate spectrum bands are delivered and that any technical requirements established by the JV are met.
- This is not a Mesh Killer: At first glance, the JV offer may be viewed as a reason to avoid deploying ad hoc mesh networking solutions connected via dedicated LEO/GEO sat terminals. But heavy-duty data applications, such as video streaming, may not be practical due to service constraints or pricing set by the JV and its members. Fit-for-purpose mesh deployment kits will remain important tools in agencies' toolkits during major operations.
Bottom Line
There is no good argument for having all MNOs build out coverage in uneconomical remote regions. This JV is a rational move to speed the delivery of wireless service to handsets in underserved areas.