Ookla says D2D connections rose 24.5% from July 2025 to March 2026

Ookla said global direct-to-device (D2D) connections rose 24.5% from July 2025 to March 2026. Ookla also said only a small percentage of overall mobile users have connected their smartphones to a satellite.

The figures cited by Light Reading describe growth in D2D usage over the eight-month period, but the source excerpt does not provide a total number of connections or the exact share of mobile subscribers that have used satellite links. D2D refers to satellite connectivity that links directly to consumer smartphones rather than through a separate satellite terminal.

The update adds to broader tracking of non-terrestrial mobile connectivity as operators, satellite companies, and device makers test or expand direct smartphone links. In the eSIM market, D2D matters because satellite-capable mobile services can intersect with device provisioning, operator support, and standards-based remote SIM provisioning (RSP), although the source does not name specific operators, countries, devices, or eSIM standards in this report.