Connected Cars: Linking the Land and the Sky

The convergence of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks is promising to fast-track the next generation of ubiquitous connectivity for automobiles, rail, and other mobility systems. The vision of space-connected vehicles is not new. My perspectives on the evolving possibilities go back to a conversation with the Michigan Aerospace and Manufacturers Association (MAMA) in the Spring of 2020, which culminated in a talk I gave later that summer on the potential intersection of automotive and satellite connectivity.

Those were the early years of the first launches of low earth orbit (LEO) constellations. The commercial services of the Starlink platform and the emergence of other similar ventures, such as Amazon’s Kuiper (now Amazon Leo) in the U.S., and OneWeb in the U.K., were still nascent.

Fast Forward to 2026

A short research project with Andrew Macdonald, while at General Motors, assured us that the marriage of terrestrial and non-terrestrial connectivity will soon emerge to offer commercial low bandwidth basic messaging, and eventually could lead to more serious wideband data flow, and someday, seamless broadband connectivity services, both for streaming entertainment and for safety functions, especially those involving autonomous vehicles. We published our outlook for the future and possible use cases in an SAE paper1 in the spring of 2021, as the details of the 3GPP Release 17 were getting fleshed out for publication the following year.

The industry has come a long way from our early ponderings about the maturity of satellite communication. The emergence of the software-defined vehicle (SDV) and over-the-air (OTA) update capabilities has added a new impetus to vehicle connectivity, especially digitally connected services, to add incremental post-sale revenue opportunities. While building terrestrial connectivity remains the foundation for wireless communication for the vehicle, some automakers are beginning to appreciate the prospect of the vehicle being connected at all times and everywhere.

Field Demonstration BMW

Just this August, BMW, tapping into Viasat’s geostationary satellites, completed a trial and demonstration, using L-band for voice communications in a production software-defined vehicle, directly through the vehicle’s native E/E architecture using 3GPP standards-based Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) satellite connectivity. Part of the intent is to complement and fill the dead zones in traditional cellular networks.

The use cases for automotive satellite connectivity include emergency assistance and narrowband voice services in rural, off-grid, or geographically remote regions where terrestrial LTE and 5G signals are sparse or unavailable. The BMW trial included narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) over the L-band (1.6 GHz) and did not require a high-power phased array antenna. As proof that this is no longer a futuristic idea, the demo used the standard Qualcomm 5G automotive modem, configured to handle NTN protocols with Cubic Telecom’s eSIM that supported dynamic network handoffs between terrestrial cell towers and orbiting satellite beams.

The necessary high-gain receiver to catch the weak L-band satellite signal included a multi-function (GPS/Cellular with L-Band) omnidirectional antenna, integrated into the standard automotive shark-fin housing, designed to toggle between ground cell towers (NB-IoT/LTE-M) and overhead LEO/GEO satellites when out of terrestrial range. The same technology can be applied to fleet tracking, basic map updates in rural or isolated areas, and local weather feeds.

The Coming Wave of Satellite Communication for Auto

But satellite communication need not be limited to SOS and simple 2-way text messages, or just to fill the occasional gap for cellular connectivity. It can and will have a larger role in raising the full potential of wireless connectivity beyond individual vehicles, for a smarter and safer mobility ecosystem, be it for vehicle-to-anything links, go-anywhere ubiquitous communication with autonomous fleets, reliable city-communication infrastructure with its first responder or law enforcement team, or in disaster zones that may have lost their entire terrestrial communication infrastructure, achieving the true 99.9999% communication reliability.

Complementary Option, not Competition

The existing cellular incumbents should not see satellite communication as a threat or substitute, but rather a complementary solution that fills the gap in its reliability and connectivity in urban, rural, or remote areas with sparse networks. Our 2021 paper showed that the availability of universal terrestrial connectivity today remains limited to about 97%, even in an urban metro area served by multiple carriers.

A combination of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks could realistically elevate that to near 100%, raising the quality of service (QoS) to meet the demands of ubiquitous digital services and round-the-clock connection to an autonomous vehicle. In today’s world, frequently impacted by natural disasters, from strong flash floods and storms to forest fires that damage land-based infrastructure, the need for plugging in a non-terrestrial communication system affordably to offer a lifeline to isolated neighborhoods in urban, rural, and remote areas cannot be overemphasized.

Even with a functioning terrestrial network on its best days, the disruptions to emergency communications, including 911 or other SOS, both narrowband and broadband, simply cannot be avoided. As we know, asynchronous services, such as video streaming, are designed to be somewhat tolerant to interruptions or gaps by virtue of buffering and related technologies. Synchronous real-time communications, such as audio/video calls, on the other hand, are more prone to unreliable QoS when experiencing frequent gaps or interruptions.

Leading LEO operators have moved quickly to partner with terrestrial operators.  Only time will tell whether this collaboration will prevail as the recent partnership between the three U.S. wireless carriers suggests some concern exists regarding the longer-term impact and intentions of players such as Starlink – to go it alone leveraging their shared terrestrial spectrum assets.

The LEO Constellations and Ubiquitous Connectivity

Starlink, using its constellation of LEO satellites, has evolved to be a mainstream vertically integrated satellite broadband service provider that can effectively fill this terrestrial QoS gap. The growing Starlink coverage shows the potential for ubiquitous satellite communication, be it in the Amazon jungle, war-ravaged Ukraine, or on ocean-faring boats or large vehicles, such as an RV driving through the North American wilderness.

Starlink is certainly not far from an automotive integration with Tesla now that it has expanded its spectrum holdings.  In many ways, beam management from a car for NTN communication is a more straightforward proposition than using a smartphone, as it can leverage the vehicle's GNSS positioning, IMU data, and other navigation features.

The hardware cost, antenna footprint, and subscription model for a space-based system will probably take a while to be ready for traditional automotive connectivity or form factor. New startups are coming online, specifically exploring the extension of the vehicle’s terrestrial connectivity to a space-based infrastructure.

Emerging Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) Satellites

A French startup, Univity, is proposing to build a space extension of the cellular/5G network, using small satellites at altitudes even lower than LEOs, at about 375 km or 233 miles, much lower than Starlink’s 550 km.

The architecture, with lower RF losses compared to LEOs, is different from the one used by Starlink, targeted specifically for mobile or automotive connectivity, intended to work with existing terrestrial networks and mobile operators, as a space extension2 rather than as a proprietary satellite network, combined with a 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN).

The idea is that the shorter satellite distance improves the RF link budget and allows the satellite to communicate using an existing automotive 5G modem and a relatively small terrestrial antenna (about 6X6 in.) with a phased array, smaller than a Starlink terminal, all powered by the vehicle’s 12V or 48V battery. The vehicle can also supply the SatCom modem with continuous power.

While the setup is likely to consume more power than a standard cellular modem, even a 10W average load would be tiny in a modern EV or ICE vehicle. The idea is that the car does not need continuous maximum power to transmit. When the link is excellent, it can operate at relatively low power. When the satellite is near the horizon, or the signal deteriorates, it can increase resources.

Despite the likely advantages, the promise of VLEO championed by Univity, however, remains far from being realized commercially. Its next major milestone is the two-satellite demonstration, intended to validate the end-to-end hardware and software before any serious deployment around 2028.

Conclusion

 The integration of non-terrestrial connectivity with on-ground cellular networks is no longer a future innovation, but a real opportunity to enhance the capabilities of today’s mobile networks, with 5G NR-NTN integration architecture.

This can effectively bridge the communication gap of today’s cellular infrastructure, especially in rural and remote areas. BMW and Viasat have already demonstrated a combined cellular and satellite connectivity for narrowband connectivity, suitable for emergency services, using L-band spectrum. In the span of a decade, Starlink and its 10,000+ LEO satellite constellation have evolved as a viable satellite communication alternative, offering a robust connectivity infrastructure, with a portable broadband terminal that is shown to work anywhere.

While it is yet to be a fully integrated, end-to-end 5G NR-NTN system, Starlink already has a collaboration with T-Mobile to use its cellular spectrum to reach ordinary smartphones, to complement areas with sparse or no coverage for emergency data transfer. Alternatives for integrated cellular and satellite connectivity for automotive applications are emerging, such as the French startup Univity, envisioning a space-based extension of conventional 5G terrestrial architecture. As for the future of automotive satcoms, we can safely say the sky is the limit!

References:

1. SAE Paper – Exploring the future: Intersection of Automotive and Satellite Connectivity: Use Cases and Exploration of a Hybrid Model, P. Goswami & A. Macdonald, SAE AeroTech® Digital Summit, March 9, 2021, https://doi.org/10.4271/2021-01-0017.

2. BMW/ViaSat demo: https://satnews.com/2026/08/06/viasat-and-bmw-group demonstrate-integrated-automotive-satellite-voice-capability-over-l-band-network/

3. 5GAA - Benefits of Satellite Communications & Use Case - https://5gaa.org/content/uploads/2024/09/5gaa-ntn-ras-technical-report.pdf

4. Univity: a 5G Constellation for Connected Vehicle - https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/45314-univity-a-5g-constellation-for-the connected-vehicle, Partha Goswami

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Partha Goswami has over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry at multiple OEMs, working in R&D, Planning, and technology strategy, most recently at GM as a Professional Fellow of technology trends & strategy. Currently, Dr. Goswami provides consulting and advisory services as Principal at PG Mobility Analysis LLC, focusing on emerging trends in CASE (Connectivity, Autonomous, Services, Electrification), software-defined vehicles (SDV), and technology-driven intelligent mobility.  He serves as an industry mentor at the I-Corps program at Western Michigan University, Expert-in-Residence (EIR) at the Centrepolis Accelerator, and is an ambassador of the COVESA consortium.