• 76% of respondents reported losing mobile signal every week, while 43% chose emergency calling as their top satellite-enabled service
  • 5GAA expects initial narrowband automotive satellite services from around 2027, ahead of higher-data applications

The fact

Satellite operator Viasat and the 5G Automotive Association surveyed 1,606 drivers across 10 markets about using satellite connectivity in cars. Three-quarters said they would be willing to pay for the service, while 76% reported losing mobile signal at least once a week.

Emergency calling ranked as the most popular use case, chosen by 43% of respondents. Real-time hazard and traffic alerts followed at 17%, with 10% selecting traffic management during disasters. Interest in higher-data services was also significant, with 45% choosing options such as 4K or 8K streaming and automated software updates.

5GAA, whose members include automakers, telecom operators and technology suppliers, expects the first narrowband satellite services in production vehicles from around 2027, using 3GPP-based non-terrestrial network technology.

The assessment

The survey does not show how many drivers will actually subscribe to satellite connectivity, but it does give automakers a clearer sense of which services may matter first. Emergency calling and hazard alerts ranked ahead of entertainment and also fit the lower-data services that 5GAA expects to reach vehicles earlier.

Automakers now have to decide which satellite services are worth putting into production vehicles. The survey suggests drivers care most about keeping emergency calls and hazard alerts available when mobile coverage drops. Whether they will pay for those services will depend on how they are integrated into the car, where they are available and how much they cost. For BTW readers, the 75% figure is not evidence of actual demand. The more useful finding is that safety services ranked ahead of entertainment, giving automakers a clearer indication of which features may be worth launching first.

What to watch

Watch for automakers to announce the first production models, launch markets and pricing for satellite-connected services. Details on which functions work over satellite when cellular coverage is lost, and whether the switch happens automatically, will show how the service is designed for drivers. Once services launch, subscription and usage figures will provide a better measure of demand than survey responses.