Billion-dollar spectrum deals and a wave of mergers are speeding up satellite D2D. Our newly updated research and D2D-IMT benchmark show how regulators are keeping pace.
SpaceX has become the most aggressive buyer of spectrum for satellite direct-to-device. In September 2025 it agreed to acquire EchoStar’s AWS-4 and H-block licences for approximately $17 billion, followed in November by EchoStar’s unpaired AWS-3 licences for around $2.6 billion.
This year it won AWS-3 licences in two markets in the FCC’s Auction 113 and, earlier this month, reportedly agreed an $8 billion deal for Grain Management’s nationwide low-band portfolio.
Together with Amazon’s spectrum acquisitions and high-profile mergers such as Lynk and Omnispace, these deals have accelerated the development and testing of D2D over the past two years.
With satellite operators increasingly holding both IMT and MSS spectrum, constellations are approaching commercial maturity and the market is consolidating.
We’ve updated all our Satellite related research. In our D2D-IMT benchmark profiles, we track developments in the regulation and authorisation of satellite D2D based on mobile operators’ licensed frequencies.
Using an interactive database, you can find information on regulatory status, frameworks, IMTInternational Mobile Telecommunications (I… bands, space station authorisations and more relating to every country that has implemented a framework for D2D-IMT and even several that are still at the trial stage.
We’ve also updated the research the global overview of regulation of D2D-IMT as well as updated the WRC-27The World Radiocommunication Conference (W… research note that tracks the discussions for agenda items 1.13 to reflect the latest regional positions.
There’s also an update to the Research note that compares the progress of the six largest satellite D2D operators – from SpaceX to Skylo – discussing mergers, awards and transfers of spectrum as well as their future plans.
You can also view our prior research the question if satellite D2D-IMT connectivity should count towards mobile network coverage obligations.
The benchmark and these three research notes are all available now to Spectrum Research Service subscribers.
The Satellite D2D-IMT Research Notes are:
Experts talk spectrum.
