Many Nations Moving Toward D2D Service Rules, but at Different Paces
Nations worldwide are working on individual regulatory frameworks for direct-to-device (D2D) service, with satellite operators facing some challenges in dealing with the varied approaches, said Lynk Chief Global Affairs Officer Amy Mehlman at an FCBA continuing education seminar Monday. Some countries might have to revisit their rules, she said, depending on what the ITU does at its 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference and the outcomes of Agenda Item 1.13, which deals with D2D service.
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Nations are at different stages of progress in setting up their D2D rules frameworks, regulators told the FCBA audience.
Cole Grayston, a senior spectrum engineer at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, said the policy framework and technical standards that Canada adopted this year aimed to allow flexibility for operators providing services in a spectrally efficient manner. He said the country's size means that while much of its population is connected to wireless service, a lot of its geography is unconnected. D2D service is intended to be supplemental in nature, he noted. Because supplemental mobile coverage by satellite doesn't go toward meeting terrestrial mobile coverage requirements of terrestrial operators, that encourages them to continue their terrestrial deployments in Canada.
Grayston also said Canada has one operator licensed to provide D2D service. It's now in a trial phase, where it's offering beta service to customers, and will move to full commercial service in December. Another operator indicated that it plans to launch commercial service in 2026, he added.
U.K. Office of Communications (Ofcom) spectrum policy principal Richard Moore said that at the start of the year, the U.K. wasn't sure if there would be much industry interest in providing D2D service, due to the extensive terrestrial mobile coverage it already enjoys. But an Ofcom call for input showed otherwise, he said. By Christmas, Ofcom hopes to have an authorization framework in place and to be inviting applications from U.K. mobile operators that have partnered with satellite operators. The regulatory agency would like to see commercial D2D service being offered in the U.K. as soon as early 2026, he noted. Virgin Media O2 announced a partnership with SpaceX in October to offer D2D service starting in the first half of next year, while Vodafone has tested a D2D service in partnership with AST SpaceMobile.
Deivit Andrade, an adviser to Mexican Telecommunications Regulatory Commissioner Tania Villa, said D2D service is a priority for the agency since it can play a big role in extending mobile coverage to areas that lack connectivity. The commission has issued one experimental license for testing the service in the 700 MHz band, and the regulatory framework is being developed, Andrade said. He added that Mexico has looked at what other nations have done as it shapes its regulatory framework.
Nompucuko Nontombana, a councilor at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, said a process is underway to set up a D2D regulatory framework, with hearings to get input from stakeholders. She said some satellite operators aren't providing service to the nation now because of its rules covering such topics as pricing, and the agency is looking at those issues as well to try to encourage satellite service. South Africa hopes to have a D2D regulatory framework in place in the next fiscal year, she added.
Lynk's Mehlman said smaller nations and their border situations present a particular challenge for satellite operators. Mobile satellite service spectrum is increasingly used in D2D offerings because it's globally harmonized, she noted. When it comes to satellite operators using mobile network operators' terrestrial spectrum, the satellite operators are "at their mercy, to a large extent." Because of that, there's no need for nations to adopt heavy regulation of satellite operators offering D2D service beyond the rules regime that their MNO partners operate under, she said.
Canadian official Grayston said the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) has been trying to come up with a preliminary view regarding the WRC-27 Agenda Item 1.13, with the goal of developing a common position to take to the conference. That preliminary view right now has the support of nations including Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Uruguay, he said.
D2D technology is developing rapidly, and operations or trials going on now operate under a no protection/no interference basis as laid out by the ITU’s Article 4.4 rules, Grayston added. But with the proliferation of service offerings, it’s important there be a framework established, he said.
For Mexico, Andrade said a CITEL priority is cross-border interference management.