The Great Connectivity Convergence: NTN in Automotive

08-06-2026

4-minute read

Summary

Direct-to-device (D2D), enabled by new standards introduced in 3GPP's Release 17, is bringing satellite and terrestrial connectivity together in a single, interoperable ecosystem for the first time.
To understand what this means for drivers and automotive manufacturers, Viasat and the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) surveyed 1,606 drivers across 10 markets to explore how they experience car connectivity today and how their expectations shift when satellite connectivity enters the picture.
This report, NTN in Automotive, explores consumer demand for connected-car services, the terrestrial coverage gaps that satellite can fill, and the revenue opportunity this represents for automotive OEMs.

What's driving demand for NTN across automotive?

In a world where drivers depend on their vehicles not just for transportation, but for communication, navigation, entertainment and staying reachable in emergencies, the connected car has quickly transformed from a novelty into an expectation. Yet with significant portions of everyday driving taking place on highways, in rural areas, or across borders, connectivity drops away precisely when drivers need it most.

Satellite connectivity offers a path to extend service continuity beyond terrestrial networks and to provide an additional layer of resilience when cellular networks are congested or down. But until recently, specialist hardware requirements limited this to fleet and logistics contexts.

The Great Connectivity Convergence changes this dynamic. Underpinned by 3GPP's Release 17, which wrote satellite into the global mobile rulebook, a single SIM can now connect to both terrestrial and satellite networks, marking the emergence of direct-to-automotive (D2A) satellite services.

Our research shows that driver demand for always-on connectivity is real, with safety services the most at risk of failing when coverage drops.

Read the full report

Discover how satellite and terrestrial networks are reshaping connectivity for drivers and automotive OEMs in The Great Connectivity Convergence: NTN in Automotive.

Key findings

Drivers spend more time in their vehicles than ever, which is exactly why coverage gaps matter.

75%

of drivers are behind the wheel at least five days a week.

53%

drive every day.

42%

spend two or more hours driving each day.

Opportunities to extend connected services beyond the road

For automotive OEMs and service providers, NTN represents both a technical and commercial inflection point. Its deployment is making it increasingly practical and cost-effective to extend connected-car services beyond the limits of terrestrial coverage, and the data shows drivers are ready for it.

The convergence of satellite and cellular networks enables manufacturers to:

Anchor connected-car strategies around safety and continuity: emergency call (eCall), hazard alerts and traffic management are the services drivers would feel most acutely losing, and the ones most likely to fail outside cellular coverage
Differentiate across vehicle segments using a single standards-based integration, without separate hardware platforms or bespoke workarounds
Unlock a defined revenue opportunity: nearly 95% of drivers open to a connected-car bundle would also pay for satellite-enabled continuity, with 62% willing to pay a 5 to 10% premium
Target broadband-enabled experiences such as 4K/8K streaming and gaming at the premium segment, a real opportunity, but a longer-term one

NTN-enabled services give OEMs a path to protect and extend the value of connected-car services beyond cellular coverage, and also to unlock new pathways for tiering, upselling and differentiation across vehicle segments.

"Drivers' expectations don't stop at the edge of the cellular network, and neither should the services that keep them safe. NTN gives automotive manufacturers a path to close that gap, and the data shows drivers are ready to pay for it."

Andy Kessler

Enterprise & Land Mobile Vice President, Viasat

Read the full report

Discover how satellite and terrestrial networks are reshaping connectivity for drivers and automotive OEMs in The Great Connectivity Convergence: NTN in Automotive.