Mobile Satellite Services Association

Name

Mobile Satellite Services Association

Legal name

Mobile Satellite Services Association

Website

https://mss-association.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Ramon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: MSSA generates revenue through annual membership dues paid by Sponsor, Contributor, and Associate tier members. Fees are for a 12-month period, renewable on the anniversary of membership activation. As a non-profit industry association, revenue supports standards coordination, regulatory advocacy, and member services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

MSSA is a non-profit industry association that provides standards coordination, technical reference architectures, and regulatory advocacy for the mobile satellite services (MSS) ecosystem. It publishes technical documents (MSS Reference Architecture, Spectrum Management for D2D white paper), coordinates 3GPP NTN standards activities, and runs a three-tier membership program (Sponsor, Contributor, Associate) to advance Direct-to-Device (D2D) and IoT connectivity using already-licensed L- and S-band spectrum.

Product overview

The Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) is a non-profit industry association, not a product company. It provides standards coordination, technical documents, and regulatory advocacy for Direct-to-Device (D2D) and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) satellite services. The association's offerings include the MSSA Reference Architecture, spectrum management white papers, regulatory filings, and member insights—collectively supporting the integration of L- and S-band MSS spectrum with terrestrial 5G networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MSSA Reference Architecture Strategic recommendations document for accelerating satellite-terrestrial network integration, expanding coverage, and delivering scalable NTN services. Covers technological advancements for satellite constellations, ground infrastructure, mobile devices, and service delivery across space segment, ground segment, user segment, and service layer.
• Spectrum Management Considerations for D2D Services White paper exploring spectrum options for supporting scalable Direct-to-Device service delivery, trade-offs between MSS spectrum and MNO terrestrial spectrum for D2D connectivity, and regulatory/technical advantages of MSS spectrum for near-term deployment.
• MSSA Regulatory Filings and Submissions Collection of regulatory submissions, filings, and spectrum/technical policy positions contributed to global regulatory bodies including FCC (US), TRAI (India), ANATEL (Brazil), MCMC (Malaysia), CST (Saudi Arabia), Bahrain TRA, ECTEL, ACMA (Australia), Egyptian NTRA, Ofcom (UK), RSPG, Tanzania, NTIA, CITEL, and TATT (Trinidad and Tobago) regarding D2D, NTN, and MSS spectrum matters.
• MSSA Insights Thought leadership content featuring member case studies, industry trends, and expert perspectives on mobile satellite services, D2D connectivity, and NTN ecosystem developments. Includes coverage of Non-Terrestrial Networks, End-to-End Service Delivery, Resource Management, Roaming and Network Sharing, and Service Realization.
• MSSA Membership Program Three-tier membership structure (Sponsor, Contributor, Associate) offering access to technical committees, working groups, draft deliverables, certification programs, and member communications for advancing D2D and NTN services. Sponsor tier includes Board of Directors seat and product certification rights; Contributor tier ($17,500/year) includes full technical and governance participation; Associate tier ($2,500/year) provides observer-level participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 MHz of L- and S-band spectrum available for D2D services across multiple MSS networks globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ViasatcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2024Viasat is a founding member of MSSA and serves as the Chairman organization. Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO of Viasat, is the Chairman of MSSA. Viasat contributes L- and S-band MSS assets and plays a leading role in defining the association's technical direction and governance. The founding announcement (February 9, 2024) positioned Viasat as the primary leadership entity within the MSSA founding coalition.
• Terrestar SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2024Terrestar Solutions is a founding member contributing S-band MSS spectrum assets and a commitment to bridging connectivity gaps in Canada (affecting approximately one-third of the Canadian population). President and CEO Jacques Leduc has provided public commentary on MSSA's mission to enable seamless global coverage.
• Ligado NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2024Ligado Networks is a founding member bringing L-band MSS spectrum and network resources to the MSSA North American D2D market strategy. CEO Doug Smith has emphasized D2D satellite services developed on the L- and S-band NTN ecosystem delivering highest performance.
• OmnispacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2024Omnispace is a founding member with prior leadership in evolving terrestrial standards to enable NTN. President and CEO Ram Viswanathan has highlighted the association's potential to offer game-changing D2D global voice, text, and data solutions to billions of users and devices worldwide.
• Yahsat (Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2024Yahsat is the sole MENA-region founding member, advocating for integration between satellite connectivity and terrestrial networks. Group CEO Ali Al Hashemi has noted that the association supports IoT and D2D as key pillars of Yahsat's growth strategy.
• EricssonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEricsson partnered with Qualcomm and Thales Alenia Space to achieve the first 5G NR-NTN call over a simulated LEO satellite channel, using standards-based NTN device without extra satellite equipment. Demonstrates technical viability of 3GPP-based non-terrestrial networks as a seamless extension of traditional mobile infrastructure.
• QualcommminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQualcomm developed 3GPP Release 17-compliant satellite modems (for fixed and mobile IoT over GEO/GSO satellites) and added NB-NTN connectivity to commercial 5G smartphone modems, enabling SMS over satellite in areas lacking terrestrial coverage. Active in MSSA ecosystem as chipset vendor enabling D2D and IoT services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GSMA: GSMA is the global industry association representing mobile operators and the broader mobile ecosystem. MSSA coordinates with GSMA on D2D and NTN standards, but GSMA serves as the broader mobile industry association while MSSA is a satellite-specific niche association focused on MSS spectrum.
• GVF (Global VSAT Forum): GVF is an independent non-profit association for the satellite communications industry, focused on policy advocacy, training, and industry coordination. GVF serves a broader satellite industry audience, while MSSA focuses specifically on MSS/D2D.
• ESOA (EMEA Satellite Operators Association, now part of GSOA): GSOA (formerly ESOA) is the global satellite operators industry association representing geostationary and non-geostationary operators. MSSA and GSOA both coordinate satellite industry policy and spectrum positions, with overlapping but distinct operator membership.
• 3GPP: 3GPP is the global standards organization that develops the technical specifications for mobile telecommunications, including NTN work in Releases 17 and 18 that MSSA explicitly coordinates with. MSSA contributes inputs and consolidates member positions on NTN specifications.
• ITU (International Telecommunication Union): ITU is the UN specialized agency for ICTs, responsible for global spectrum allocation including MSS bands that MSSA members use. MSSA coordinates with ITU on spectrum policy and standards for satellite-terrestrial integration.
• 5G Automotive Association (5GAA): 5GAA is a cross-industry association developing connected and automated mobility solutions. MSSA explicitly partners with 5GAA on automotive D2D and V2X use cases over satellite, making it a directly comparable cross-industry association working on adjacent connectivity standards.
• World Teleport Association (WTA): WTA is a non-profit association for the teleport and satellite ground segment industry. Like MSSA, WTA is a membership-based industry association for satellite communications, though focused on ground segment operators rather than MSS spectrum coordination.
• TM Forum: TM Forum is a global industry association for telcos and their technology suppliers focused on digital transformation, operations, and standards. MSSA overlaps in serving network operators and infrastructure providers, but with a satellite-NTN specific focus rather than broader telco IT.
• SSPI (Society of Satellite Professionals International): SSPI is a non-profit organization for satellite industry professionals focused on education, networking, and industry recognition. Both are membership-based satellite industry associations, though SSPI emphasizes professional development while MSSA emphasizes technical and regulatory coordination.

Others

• Satnews: Satnews is an industry publication covering satellite communications, including NTN and D2D developments. As a media/news peer, it intersects with MSSA's ecosystem by covering the same MSS and D2D market developments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mss_association
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mobile-satellite-services-association-mssa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mobile Satellite Services Association