As battlefields evolve into complex digital domains, militaries and governments are reassessing the role of connectivity in conflict, drawing telecoms and commercial satellite players into the defence arena. A 2025 report by SkyQuest forecasts that the 5G defence market will surge to $4.2 billion by 2032, driven by demand for faster, more secure, and AI-driven networks that support unmanned systems, real-time intelligence, and joint operations. Rising geopolitical tensions are accelerating this investment, reshaping the defence landscape.
“Today, conflicts are not defined solely by traditional firepower but by the ability to integrate drones, distributed assets, and network-centric operations across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains,” said Aarthi Kannadoss, associate at Frost & Sullivan, in an interview with Mobile World Live (MWL). “Secure, resilient, and high-bandwidth satellite communication has become a critical enabler of modern combat.”
Governments are responding by allocating between 7 and 10 percent of their defence budgets to satellite communications infrastructure and services. The telecoms and technology sector is also moving swiftly. Globalstar, a US-based telco specialising in commercial satellite-to-phone services, expanded its government reach through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the US Army. The partnership explores covert satellite-IoT use cases and resilient communications for contested environments. Meanwhile, Orange Business unveiled a dedicated defence unit in France to support sovereign, secure networks for national and allied use.
On the vendor side, Nokia recently struck a deal with Norwegian defence technology company Kongsberg to deliver advanced 5G and future 6G tactical connectivity, while also refreshing its military product range. “As geopolitical tensions accelerate, militaries are seeking secure, high-speed, and resilient connectivity that can generate real-time, actionable intelligence to strengthen situational awareness and decision-making,” Giuseppe Targia, head of space and defence at Nokia, told MWL.
The shift is being driven by real-world pressure. “The wars of today are exposing the vulnerabilities that come when communications aren’t resilient, discreet, or globally available,” said Henry Orejuela, head of government sales and business development at Globalstar, in an interview with MWL. “Agencies like the US Army are actively scouting technologies that can operate in austere and contested environments where infrastructure is absent or compromised.”
Globalstar, which recently secured a $1.1 billion deal with Apple to power emergency connectivity on iPhones, is now turning its expertise toward covert, low-power, narrowband satellite communications. “The reality is that geopolitical tensions are forcing militaries to think in terms of scale—thousands of low-cost, resilient sensors or unmanned systems that can operate undetected for months,” Orejuela explained. “That shift is what’s opening the door for Globalstar to play a more prominent role in defence satcom.”
The growing influx of telco and satellite providers is changing what is possible in military communications. According to Kannadoss, defence and commercial connectivity needs are converging as militaries often seek the same technologies, such as reliable satellite links, mobile terminals, and non-geostationary orbit capabilities, with added layers of security. The appeal of commercial connectivity players lies in “the need for adaptability and resilience,” she said.
Orejuela agreed that lessons from Globalstar’s commercial legacy and partnerships have translated directly into military advantage. “Commercial experience has honed our ability to miniaturise devices, extend battery life to years on AAA batteries, or even integrate solar for decade-long endurance,” he explained. “Those same design disciplines carry over into military IoT use cases where small form factor, low power, and cost-effectiveness are non-negotiable.”
For instance, CRADA with the US Army aims to refine such innovations. According to Orejuela, the deal is “about more than testing—it’s about co-developing an understanding of requirements and how Globalstar can fill gaps.” “The goal is to advance the state of the art in battery endurance, miniaturisation, and LPI/LPD characteristics.”
Kannadoss added that utilising commercial satcom capabilities has already saved the US Department of Defence more than 25 percent in satellite communications costs between 2019 and 2024, while also giving operators access to stable, long-term contracts.
Nokia’s Targia believes commercial 5G in particular has the potential to redefine how militaries connect and coordinate on the battlefield. Many military networks still rely on proprietary technologies “with limited interoperability.” He said: “Today’s armed forces are looking to complement traditional solutions with proven, standardised technologies like 5G and AI.”
Nokia’s approach centres on bringing standardised, scalable systems built on 3