17 December 2025
The “Direct-to-Device” (D2D) revolution, previously dominated by smartphone emergency messaging, has officially expanded into the realm of autonomous robotics.
On December 16, Globalstar and Skydio—the leading U.S. autonomous drone manufacturer—announced the successful completion of a technology trial that integrates satellite-licensed spectrum into drone operations.
The trial validated the compatibility of Skydio’s X10 drones with Globalstar’s licensed Band n53 spectrum and its XCOM RAN private 5G platform. This development disrupts the current D2D narrative—often focused on consumer handsets and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)—by demonstrating satellite spectrum can serve as a critical “control link” layer for industrial IoT (Internet of Things) and public safety robotics.
What Is D2D?
D2D for drones means they communicate directly with each other (or with ground devices) without needing base stations. This creates robust, infrastructure-less networks for tasks such as collision avoidance, emergency relays, content sharing, and coordinated swarm operations. These networks often use 5G or satellite tech for reliability, security, and energy efficiency in challenging environments.
Expanding the D2D Ecosystem
While the satellite industry has focused heavily on connecting consumer smartphones (Supplemental Coverage from Space), this trial highlights a lucrative B2B and government vector for satellite spectrum: high-bandwidth, interference-free control for autonomous systems.
During the trial, the companies evaluated Band n53 and XCOM RAN as high-performance alternatives to traditional Wi-Fi or public cellular networks, which are often unreliable in contested or congested environments. The successful test confirmed that Globalstar’s spectrum could support the demanding uplink requirements of autonomous drones, including reliable command and control (C2) and real-time streaming video.
Technical Validation
The trial’s success relied on the unique properties of Band n53—a dedicated mid-band spectrum licensed to Globalstar—combined with the XCOM RAN architecture, which is designed for high-capacity uplink performance.
Skydio CTO Abe Bachrach highlighted the ease of integration, noting that the team was able to “integrate Band n53 using an existing module already supported within Globalstar’s ecosystem,” allowing for rapid real-world testing. This “plug-and-play” capability suggests that the hardware barrier for adding satellite-spectrum resilience to commercial drones is lower than previously expected.
Strategic Implications
For Globalstar, this trial moves the company beyond the “emergency SOS” market associated with its Apple partnership. It positions Band n53 as a critical enabler for the “Internet of Moving Things,” particularly for first responders and industrial inspection teams who cannot risk signal loss during a mission.
“This trial highlights the strength of Band n53 and the XCOM RAN architecture for high performance uplink applications like autonomous drones,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, CEO of Globalstar. “We are proud to support a future where first responders have the tools they need to move faster and stay safer.”
Market Outlook
This validation arrives as regulators and defense agencies increasingly view commercial satellite spectrum as a way to harden the “kill chain” and supply chain against jamming and interference. By leveraging licensed satellite spectrum rather than crowded public frequencies, operators can ensure “sovereign” control over their assets—a key trend in both the commercial and defense sectors.
The successful trial paves the way for mass-market adoption of satellite-spectrum-enabled drones in sectors ranging from public safety to critical infrastructure monitoring, effectively graduating D2D from a consumer safety feature to an industrial necessity.
