Jamie Munro
Imagine having seamless mobile broadband access anywhere on Earth, from the most remote deserts and oceans to disaster zones, all without the need for cell towers. That’s the promise of direct-to-cell (D2C) satellite communication,
a breakthrough technology that allows ordinary, unmodified, smartphones to connect directly with satellites in low Earth orbit. Pioneered by companies like AST SpaceMobile, Lynk Global and SpaceX’s Starlink, this tech is set to change global connectivity. But as the barriers to connectivity fall, a flood of cyber threats emerge.
What is D2C and why should I care?
Traditional cellular networks rely on dense, ground-based infrastructure: ugly cell towers, fibre optic cables and data centers. D2C turns this model on its head. Satellites function like flying cell towers, using standard radio bands to connect directly with everyday smartphones, no satellite phone and no spoiled views (sorry astronomers!).
The benefits are clear: universal coverage, faster disaster response and access for underserved regions. But with the race to deployment ongoing, complex cybersecurity threats stretching from the screen to the sky may be overlooked by engineers who are simply moving too fast to see them.
The expanding attack surface
D2C systems face distinct and unique threats. Attackers don’t need physical proximity to interfere and broadcasts from orbit can be jammed or spoofed by anybody with modest technical gear. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when threat actors, like nation-states, test their luck on these systems.
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