MNIS:NTN Preview: Making Satellite Connectivity Work

Back in May, we worked with our friends at The Mobile Network to launch the first Mobile Network Innovation Summit (MNIS) at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham.

Our ambition was to create something a little different from the usual telecoms conference. None of us wanted “yet another conference” with repetitive corporate presentations from a stage and no opportunity to actively engage.  We wanted – and we believe the industry wanted and needed – more open discussion. Less future-gazing, more practical debate about what innovation is actually happening in networks today. We wanted to address important questions about what it takes to turn promising technology into something operators can deploy, scale and ultimately make money from.

Across two days, we brought together over 200 operators, technology innovators, investors and industry experts to explore four big areas of mobile network innovation: AI and automation, energy efficiency and resilience, quantum communications, and non-terrestrial networks (NTN).

One thing became pretty clear. While all four topics generated plenty of discussion, there was an appetite to dig much deeper into the opportunities and obstacles surrounding satellite and terrestrial network convergence.

So that's exactly what we're doing.

On 3–4 November, MNIS will bring together leading voices from across the mobile and satellite industries for six focused online sessions exploring where the market is heading, what's holding it back and, most importantly, what happens next.

It's difficult to ignore the momentum behind NTN right now.

As the latest data from GSA [Temono client] clearly shows, direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity is moving beyond demonstrations towards commercial service launches. Satellite IoT is creating opportunities to connect devices in places terrestrial networks simply can't reach. Meanwhile, emerging architectures are raising the prospect of closer integration between satellite systems and conventional mobile networks.

We recently explored five developments shaping NTN on the Temono blog, from sovereign connectivity to regenerative 5G and positioning.

But as we heard repeatedly at MNIS26, demonstrating technical capability is only part of the innovation journey.

The really interesting questions tend to come afterwards. Who pays for the service? What problem does it solve that existing networks can't? How do you deliver a consistent user experience? And how do you make all the moving parts work together without introducing yet another layer of operational complexity?

There's also a wider lesson from May's event. Successful innovation rarely happens in isolation. Operators need technology partners, new commercial relationships, operational readiness and a clear route from pilot to deployment.

For NTN, this matters more than ever. Satellite and mobile operators have historically operated in quite different worlds. Convergence means bringing those worlds together, technically, commercially and increasingly politically.

From partnerships to practical business models

That convergence is where we'll kick things off on 3 November.

The opening session brings together Rakuten Mobile, Virgin Media O2, Elveo Mobile and Ookla to explore how relationships between mobile and satellite operators are evolving.

We're particularly interested in hearing what these partnerships look like beyond the initial announcements. How are operators deciding which services to launch, which technologies to back and which partners to work with?

And, crucially, what does a viable NTN business case actually look like?

The following day's discussions will explore one of the more tangible near-term opportunities: satellite IoT.

With speakers from Deutsche Telekom, OQ Technologies, Myriota and Iridium, we'll examine how mobile operators, SatCos and specialist providers are developing services for connected devices beyond terrestrial coverage.

IoT might lack some of the headline appeal of making a satellite call from an iPhone, but applications such as remote asset tracking, industrial monitoring and logistics offer some interesting and compelling commercial possibilities that today are already transforming industries. Plus, who doesn’t love a story about connected cows!

The question is how quickly these use cases can translate into sustainable demand, and whether the economics stack up for everyone involved.

One network, not another silo

Another takeaway from MNIS26 was that network innovation has to be considered as part of a bigger operational picture.

Operators are already wrestling with increasingly complex networks, multiple technology generations and growing pressure to automate operations.

Adding satellite connectivity might extend coverage, but it shouldn't mean introducing an entirely separate network environment that needs its own management systems, assurance processes and operational teams.

This is a particularly interesting theme for Rakuten Symphony, which will share its perspective on the intelligence and operational systems needed to integrate NTN into the wider mobile network.

Alongside real-world performance insight from Ookla, we'll hear from Cogninn and the Wireless Broadband Alliance on resilience, security, interoperability and the wider technology roadmap.

The discussion should help us move beyond what's “technically possible” towards what is practical and economic to deploy and operate at scale.

The questions that technology alone can't answer

Of course, even the cleverest engineering won't resolve some of the bigger issues surrounding NTN.

Spectrum availability, national sovereignty, regulation and investment are all becoming central to the industry's development.

As satellite networks become more closely integrated with critical national communications infrastructure, governments and regulators have some important decisions to make. Who controls the network? Where does data travel? How should spectrum be shared? And how can global satellite services operate within national regulatory frameworks?

With WRC-27 approaching, these are becoming increasingly pressing questions.

We're bringing together perspectives from organisations including Orange Wholesale, Analysys Mason, BearingPoint, GSOA and Avealto to explore how the industry can navigate these challenges.

And then there's investment. Satellite constellations require enormous capital commitments, but commercial returns depend on demand, competitive positioning, service adoption and the ability to build sustainable business models.

As we learned at MNIS26, the most valuable innovation conversations often happen when technologists, commercial decision-makers and investors are all involved. NTN is a perfect example of why those different perspectives need to come together.

More conversation, less PowerPoint

One of the things we were most pleased with at MNIS26 was the response to the event format.

Rather than simply asking audiences to sit through presentations, we created opportunities for speakers and attendees to challenge assumptions, share experiences and ask questions through our new ‘Huddle’ format. In these sessions, which were moderated by an industry analyst with domain expertise, delegates and speakers had the opportunity to do what you never get the chance to do at events – actually sit down together and share their views as peers.

We're carrying that philosophy into MNIS:NTN.

Each of the six hour-long sessions will combine expert perspectives with an open MNIS Huddle, giving attendees the opportunity to put questions directly to the people developing, deploying and investing in NTN services.

We're not expecting everyone to agree. In fact, we'd be slightly disappointed if they did.

The purpose of MNIS has always been to create the space for informed, candid conversations about innovation, including the difficult bits that don't always make it into a product announcement.

NTN is moving fast, but there are still plenty of questions about where the technology, commercial models and regulatory environment are heading.

We're looking forward to getting some of the people shaping that future together in November to tackle those questions head-on.

MNIS:NTN takes place online on 3–4 November 2026. Attendance is free.

View the agenda and register for MNIS

MNIS is produced by Temono in partnership with The Mobile Network.