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Building interoperable satellite connectivity.
Host Maria Varmazis sits down with Yasrine Ibnyahya, VP of technology investments and partnerships at Viasat, to discuss Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) Reference Architecture and the evolving non-terrestrial network (N2N) communications landscape. Ibnyahya explains how evolving architecture builds on earlier work by incorporating satellite payloads, multiple waveform technologies, and additional use cases.
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The need for a common satellite architecture.
This week on T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing: we discuss how satellites have continued to evolve to incorporate greater interoperable connectivity as direct-to-device services expand.
Does this newsletter spark questions for you? Write to us at space@n2k.com to guide how we’ll continue to explore the future of satellite connectivity in future podcast episodes and newsletter issues.
The growth of direct-to-device.
As space’s infrastructure has continued to expand, one of the most important new developments in direct-to-device (D2D) capabilities. While D2D offerings are not new, the significant proliferation of low-earth orbit (LEO) constellations have changed the modern network.
This expansion is creating a more diverse satellite communications ecosystem, with providers pursuing different services, technical architectures, and commercial partnership. For example, Amazon has proposed deploying a constellation of more than 5,000 satellites to provide direct-to-phone voice, messaging, data, and emergency services. The proposal reflects a broader shift toward integrating satellite connectivity with existing mobile networks rather than treating satellite communications as an entirely separate service.
However, the expanding number of satellites in orbit does not automatically create a unified communications network. Satellite operators are still required to coordinate with terrestrial mobile network operators, device manufacturers, chipset supplies, and other infrastructure providers to ensure their systems can work together.
The Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) is working to address this challenge. In September 2026, MSSA introduced its Reference Architecture 2.0. The new framework expands the association’s previous recommendations for integrating non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) with existing communications infrastructure. The updated architecture adds guidance on regenerative satellite payloads and supports both 5G New Radio and narrowband Internet of Things services within existing satellite infrastructure.
The importance of interoperability.
As satellite infrastructure continues to expand, interoperability becomes an increasingly important topic. Operators are going to be increasingly required to not only develop their own infrastructure, but also determine how their networks interact with existing providers both on the ground and in space. Without that coordination, the growth of satellite connectivity could produce a collection of separate networks rather than an integrated communications ecosystem.
Increased interoperability will likely have implications for both commercial services and critical communications. Compatible satellite networks could complement one another’s capacity and infrastructure rather than requiring each other to independently provide for every capability. For users, these improvements could expand provider choices and potentially improve service connectivity; however, working towards interoperability is not that simple. Operators and manufacturers need to agree on supported network and device features and terrestrial telecommunications will need to develop compatible roaming and certification agreements. While not impossible to solve, addressing these gaps will prove to be difficult, time consuming, and costly.
Furthermore, each additional connection also creates another point of exposure. The more interoperable satellite security systems become, the greater the risks of one network’s vulnerability creating unexpected compromises in adjacent networks. As interoperability efforts manifest, operations will need to account for more than technical integration capabilities.
The challenge will not revolve around who can put more satellites into orbit, but rather will increasingly center around who can consistently and securely integrate their networks with other major providers. If interoperability can be achieved, satellite connectivity could become a more integrated and resilient extension of the global communications infrastructure.
This week’s space-cyber headlines.
The news stories we’re reading and thinking about this week.
How Cosmos 2612 Ran Down ICEYE-X36.
- A Russian military satellite flew exceptionally close to a Finnish satellite over the course of two days last week coming within several kilometers of it.
- Jonathan McDowell wrote that it was a “completely non-consensual” maneuver.
- Listen to Maria’s coverage of the story on the CyberWire Daily.
October 19, 2026 | Source: KeepTrack
Alleged Israeli spy company heavily targeted Starlink users, sources say
- TrendAI research found that Discover-Tech was the number one bidder on Starlink traffic in over 100 countries.
- Researchers believe that Discover-Tech was using its position to geolocate or surveil on Starlink users around the world.
October 27, 2026 | Source: Reuters
How cybersecurity expertise is strengthening Europe’s defences
- Estonia is applying its cybersecurity expertise to space defense, treating satellites, ground stations, networks, and satellite-driven data as interconnected systems that require protection through the mission lifecycle.
- Estonia wants to strengthen Europe’s space resilience through collaboration, training, and secure technology development.
October 28, 2026 | Source: International Security Journal
