LIVE FROM ORANGE OPENTECH 2025: Orange unveiled plans to launch direct-to-device (D2D) messaging services for some customers in France next month, following a deal with specialist Skylo Technologies.
The service is set to be offered to 5G users with a Google Pixel 9 or Pixel 10 for free for the first six months. After the initial period it plans to charge €5 per month.
Message Satellite, as it will be branded, will be available on 11 December and uses mobile satellite service spectrum.
Orange Wholesale CEO Michael Trabbia (pictured, centre) said the service would use Eutelsat and Inmarsat birds through technology partner Skylo, which is an NTN vendor. Skylo has previously powered US operator Verizon's satellite messaging service and has pushed a trial with Deutsche Telekom in Europe.
Last week, Skylo co-founder Tarun Gupta appeared on Mobile World Live's Unwrapped event, where he flagged it had around 20 company customers and indicated he expected an increasing number of operators to take its service.
European first
Orange's Trabbia noted the company already used satellite broadband for fixed customers and for backhaul, but the mobile satellite service was "something missing" before lauding Orange's "European first" service launch.
Promoting it as "back-up connectivity," he noted satellite could not replace current network infrastructure, illustrating the service was seen as bringing "another dimension" to what it is offering already.
Although initially limited to one brand of device and SMS services where there is a clear view of the sky, Trabbia said in the future it may support voice and some data services. It also plans to expand availability to other devices.
Orange France CEO Jerome Henique (pictured, left) added customers could also use the service outside of France in 36 other countries.
Highlighting the benefit of connecting those in areas including on mountains and at sea, Henique noted although initially a consumer play, it planned to extend to business customers, citing logistics and transport as potential areas.