Non-terrestrial networks in APAC
Get a strategic view of NTN markets, architecture, regulation and control.
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More InformationWhat NTN means for control, resilience and growth in APAC.
Why NTN is becoming strategic now
Lower launch costs, 3GPP standards, live direct-to-device services and new sovereignty requirements are moving satellite connectivity into the mainstream telecom market.
Read the whitepaperWhere NTN makes economic sense
Terrestrial networks remain strongest in dense markets. NTN gains relevance in the last 5 to 10 percent of coverage, where sites, power, backhaul and maintenance become disproportionately expensive.
End-to-end architecture and control points
The contest is not decided in orbit alone. Devices, spectrum, gateways, the mobile core, cloud orchestration and customer access determine who controls value and bargaining power.
Technology, spectrum and market access
Release 19 brings more mobile-network functions into orbit. At the same time, WRC-27 and national rules determine spectrum access, gateways, lawful intercept and commercial scale.
Shape your NTN strategy
What role should your organisation play in the hybrid TN/NTN market?
Why non-terrestrial networks matter now.
APAC is entering the NTN growth phase
Geography, resilience and sovereignty are driving NTN in Asia-Pacific. The figures point to a growing market and a region where satellite infrastructure is becoming strategic for many countries.
23%+
Asia-Pacific share of the global satellite market in 2025.
9.45%
Forecast annual growth rate of the APAC satellite market through 2031.
36M+
Projected direct-to-device connections in APAC by 2032.
1M+
Users of KDDI au Starlink Direct, an early signal of paid demand.
~90%
Share of global earthquakes occurring along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
How NTN reshapes telecom control, resilience and growth in APAC.
What is NTN in 5G?
NTN, or non-terrestrial network, extends mobile connectivity beyond ground-based towers by using satellites or high-altitude platforms as part of the access network. In a 3GPP NTN model, the satellite link can work with mobile-network functions such as the 5G Core, SIM/eSIM, charging, roaming and service assurance. This creates an integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial connectivity stack. The whitepaper identifies 3GPP Release 19 as an architecture milestone because regenerative payloads can move selected gNB functions into orbit.
Can satellites connect to smartphones?
Yes, supported smartphones can connect directly to satellites through Direct-to-Device (D2D), also called direct-to-cell connectivity. The connection may use mobile spectrum shared through an operator partnership or satellite-native spectrum. Commercial deployment therefore depends on device compatibility, spectrum rights, mobile-network integration and regulatory approval. The whitepaper shows through Starlink and Deutsche Telekom Group examples that D2D is a shared-control model involving the satellite platform, mobile operator, spectrum, core network and customer relationship.
Will NTN replace mobile networks?
No. NTN is primarily a complement to terrestrial mobile and fiber networks, not a replacement. Terrestrial infrastructure remains more economical for dense traffic and high-demand areas. NTN becomes strategically attractive where extending terrestrial coverage becomes disproportionately expensive, slow or difficult, such as remote mountains, islands, maritime routes, disaster zones and isolated public-service locations. The whitepaper describes this as the last 5–10% coverage problem, where satellite economics can outperform the next terrestrial expansion.
What are the main NTN use cases?
Key NTN use cases include direct-to-device and emergency coverage, remote public-service connectivity, maritime and aviation connectivity, enterprise sites, IoT for utilities and agriculture, and resilience or sovereign infrastructure. Their economics differ: D2D depends on reachability and resilience, public connectivity on avoided tower and fiber costs, mobility on continuity, and IoT on scalable low-bandwidth coverage. NTN is strongest where these benefits outweigh the satellite premium, integration cost and operational complexity.
Why is NTN important in APAC?
APAC combines conditions that make NTN particularly relevant: thousands of islands, mountainous terrain, disaster exposure, large remote areas and markets with strong sovereignty requirements. The whitepaper identifies four regional archetypes: geography-constrained, advanced-resilience, sovereignty-driven and frontier-connectivity. NTN can therefore serve very different needs, from public-service connectivity in Indonesia and remote-island coverage to premium resilience in Japan and more controlled market-access models in sovereignty-sensitive markets.
Why does WRC-27 matter for NTN?
WRC-27 matters because spectrum decisions will influence how quickly satellite-to-phone services can scale internationally. Agenda Item 1.13 is studying possible mobile-satellite-service allocations or regulatory actions in parts of the 694/698 MHz–2.7 GHz range for direct connectivity between satellites and mobile devices. National rules will still determine authorization, interference protection, gateway localization, lawful intercept and device approval. These decisions can ultimately determine which NTN architectures and business models are commercially viable.
