The Great Connectivity Convergence: NTN in Automotive 08-06-2026 4-minute read Summary - Direct-to-device (D2D), enabled by new standards introduced in 3GPP's Release 17, is bringing satellite and terrestrial connectivity together in a single, interoperable ecosystem for the first time. - To understand what this means for drivers and automotive manufacturers, Viasat and the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) surveyed 1,606 drivers across 10 markets to explore how they experience car connectivity today and how their expectations shift when satellite connectivity enters the picture. - This report, NTN in Automotive, explores consumer demand for connected-car services, the terrestrial coverage gaps that satellite can fill, and the revenue opportunity this represents for automotive OEMs. What's driving demand for NTN across automotive? In a world where drivers depend on their vehicles not just for transportation, but for communication, navigation, entertainment and staying reachable in emergencies, the connected car has quickly transformed from a novelty into an expectation. Yet with significant portions of everyday driving taking place on highways, in rural areas, or across borders, connectivity drops away precisely when drivers need it most. Satellite connectivity offers a path to extend service continuity beyond terrestrial networks and to provide an additional layer of resilience when cellular networks are congested or down. But until recently, specialist hardware requirements limited this to fleet and logistics contexts. The Great Connectivity Convergence changes this dynamic. Underpinned by 3GPP's Release 17, which wrote satellite into the global mobile rulebook, a single SIM can now connect to both terrestrial and satellite networks, marking the emergence of direct-to-automotive (D2A) satellite services. Our research shows that driver demand for always-on connectivity is real, with safety services the most at risk of failing when coverage drops. Read the full report Discover how satellite and terrestrial networks are reshaping connectivity for drivers and automotive OEMs