In modern warfare, communication isn’t just a tactical enabler, it’s a survival mechanism. From Ukraine’s battle-tested frontlines to U.S. Navy exercises in the Arctic, a new communications paradigm is emerging: direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity.
D2D technology, which allows smartphones, sensors and other devices to connect directly to satellites, was conceived for the consumer market. Yet its potential for defense—resilient, low-bandwidth communications that can survive in contested or denied environments—is becoming increasingly clear.
“We’re seeing a kind of battle-hardening of commercial technologies,” said Andrew Cavalier, principal analyst at ABI Research. “Devices built for the consumer market are being rapidly adapted for defense applications: drones, sensors and autonomous systems that can maintain connectivity even under jamming or spoofing conditions.”
Lessons from Ukraine: A Wake-Up Call
The war in Ukraine has provided a real-world laboratory for the fusion of commercial and military satellite networks. When a Russian cyberattack disabled large portions of Ukraine’s terrestrial and satellite infrastructure in 2022, commercial systems such as Starlink became lifelines, highlighting both the resilience and vulnerabilities of privately owned space assets.
“Technologies that were years away from deployment are getting battle-tested and hardened in real time.” -Andrew Cavalier, ABI Research
“The commercial deployments we’re seeing in Ukraine are accelerating R&D cycles,” Cavalier said. “Technologies that were years away from deployment are getting battle-tested and hardened in real time.”
For defense planners, that underscores that connectivity equals survivability. David Radi, vice president of government solutions at Omnispace and a retired naval intelligence officer, recalled a recent conversation with the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
“He said that on either side, if you stupidly communicate, you will be located, targeted, and killed,” Radi said.
That tension between the need to communicate and the risk of being detected lies at the heart of D2D’s military relevance. Its tight integration with commercial networks and satellite constellations could enable discreet, resilient communications without relying on terrestrial assets.
The Technical Edge: Spectrum and Architecture
Omnispace has positioned itself at the forefront of potential defense applications by operating in a 60 MHz S-band allocation.
“The spectrum frequencies that we have—30 megahertz up, 30 down—is a pretty rich amount of spectrum,” Radi said. “Our frequencies are in the modern phones, so there’s no need for an adaptation if they want to receive that S-band.”
That compatibility means that future D2D-capable smartphones or sensors could connect directly to Omnispace satellites with minimal or no hardware modification—a logistical advantage for military users seeking speed and scale.
The S-band also offers physical benefits ideal for austere environments. “It’s pretty much all-weather and it’s got a little bit of penetration in buildings and through jungle canopy,” Radi said.
Caleb Henry, research director at Quilty Space, noted that this architecture aligns naturally with the Department of Defense’s PACE framework (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) which guides layered communications planning.
“Adding D2D provides another means of communicating when other methods are jammed or otherwise inaccessible.” -Caleb Henry, Quilty Space
“Satellite D2D can be valuable for military customers who adhere to the PACE plan,” Henry said. “Adding D2D provides another means of communicating when other methods are jammed or otherwise inaccessible.”
IoT, Autonomy and Situational Awareness
By positioning its network adjacent to commercial frequencies, Omnispace effectively bridges the consumer and defense worlds, a model made for the emerging military Internet of Things (IoT).
Radi believes the biggest near-term defense opportunity for D2D lies not in high-bandwidth battlefield comms, but in IoT-level connectivity for distributed assets.
“The military is getting bigger into IoT.” -David Radi, Omnispace
“The military is getting bigger into IoT,” he said. “It’s not just about tracking containers — it’s about knowing where your unmanned and autonomous systems are, what their status is, and how to manage them in real time.”
D2D’s small-data channels could relay telemetry, positioning and command signals from devices operating beyond line of sight, creating a low-bandwidth but resilient layer of digital awareness that supplements rather than replaces traditional satcom links, he said.
Operating in a Contested Spectrum
The Ukrainian conflict illustrated how easily digital emissions can betray a military’s position. As a result, Omnispace and other D2D developers are designing selective-activation or receive-only modes, enabling devices to gather data without transmitting or to toggle connectivity based on operational conditions.
D2D developers are enabling devices to gather data without transmitting or to toggle connectivity based on operational conditions.
“There’s a clear need for control at the edge,” Radi said. “You have to be able to go dark when necessary and still have situational awareness.”
Cavalier agreed: “Open-standard D2D systems are great for commercial markets, but the defense world has its own waveforms and encryption protocols. To adapt these technologies, you’ll need to layer on additional security.”
“It’s not going to be used behind enemy lines,” Cavalier added, “but for logistics, humanitarian ops and coordination, that’s where the opportunity lies.”
Hidden in Plain Sight
Interestingly, operating near commercial frequencies may provide a subtle security advantage.
“There’s a certain appeal to being hidden in plain sight,” Radi said. “Our frequencies are near commercial ones, so an adversary might hesitate to interfere, because they could be jamming themselves.”
That ambiguity could offer additional protection for lower-risk missions or coalition operations, where blending into civilian traffic makes intentional jamming politically or operationally costly.
The S-band’s performance through clouds, rain and foliage makes it ideal for dispersed or expeditionary forces operating in complex terrains.
The S-band’s resilience also adds practical value: its performance through clouds, rain and foliage makes it ideal for dispersed or expeditionary forces operating in complex terrains.
“It’s not designed for streaming a movie in the field,” Radi said, “but it will get your message through.”
Commercial First: Opportunity and Risk
The defense community’s growing acceptance of commercial solutions reflects both economic and operational realities.
“When it comes to deployment and cost efficiency, you’re just going to put something out there that’s already ready to be used versus building a bespoke alternative that’s ten or fifteen times more expensive,” Cavalier said. “You just need to get the capability into the hands of people on the front.”
However, reliance on commercial networks carries risk. Ukraine’s experience demonstrated the fragility of depending on a single provider; unexpected service interruptions in 2022 and 2024 disrupted Starlink access in key regions.
“When it comes to proprietary defense applications, they usually need more security layers,” Cavalier noted. “Open standards are built for the commercial market, not necessarily the defense market.”
Satellite D2D is still early in its defense lifecycle, but its trajectory mirrors the adoption of earlier dual-use technologies.
Balancing that trade-off — speed and cost versus control and assurance — will define the next phase of D2D’s evolution. Satellite D2D is still early in its defense lifecycle, but its trajectory mirrors the adoption of earlier dual-use technologies.
“This isn’t about replacing existing systems,” Radi said. “It’s about supplementing them with something that’s flexible, scalable and available when you need it.”
Cavalier agreed: “The real value of D2D for defense isn’t the technology itself — it’s the optionality it creates. In an era where communications are both a weapon and a target, having another layer of resilience could make all the difference.”
Explore More:
The State of the D2D Race - Progress That’s Been Made, Challenges That Remain
Standards, Spectrum and Seamless Connectivity for D2D Services
Mobile Satellite Services Assn: D2D Only Works if Sat Operators Guarantee National Sovereignty and are Interoperable
