EXPERT INSIGHT: Mobile vs. Satellite Economics

No successful technology goes unchallenged. Mobile networks have spread around the world and now cover roughly 5.7 billion mobile subscribers worldwide (about 5 billion smartphone users).

According to GSMA, more than 90% of the world’s population lives within range of mobile coverage, leading to roughly 7.9 billion mobile subscriptions today (with a world population of 7.8 billion!). Notably, many people have more than one subscription, with multiple SIM cards or multiple devices, so roughly 3.8 billion people account for the 7.9 billion subscriptions. This is a key point for this report: Roughly 500-800 million people lack mobile coverage worldwide, and another 3.4 billion people worldwide have some access to mobile coverage but don’t have a phone for economic reasons.

This report investigates the options for the uncovered billions that need improved remote coverage and low cost...will satellites be the answer? Or will an extension of the terrestrial network ever happen?

April 2021