SpaceX is seeking to move beyond satellite internet into the mobile telecoms market. It plans to launch next-generation Starlink Mobile satellites in 2027 and start an upgraded mobile service later that year, using additional spectrum it expects to secure from EchoStar. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said the next-generation service would be 100 times better than current Starlink Mobile. The company also plans a hybrid network combining satellites and terrestrial infrastructure.

Skylo Technologies is accelerating its push into South Korea with a service that allows regular smartphones to use satellite communications in areas without mobile coverage. The company says its direct-to-device technology connects phones to satellites without dedicated terminals or external antennas and works with mobile standards. Skylo said it operates commercial services in 37 countries and had connected about 7 million devices as of June 2025.