ITU Will Establish 2027 Direct-to-Device Rules
The 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference in Shanghai aims to formalize regulations for satellite-to-mobile connectivity.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Telecommunications
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The ITU Radiocommunication Bureau is preparing for the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference, where international regulators will attempt to establish a unified framework for direct-to-device satellite services. These services, which aim to bridge connectivity gaps, currently rely on 151 mobile operators engaged in active or planned satellite partnerships.
Why it matters
As 85% of the upcoming conference agenda focuses on space-related items, the WRC-27 outcome will determine how mobile bands are managed to support global, space-based network resilience. Establishing these standards is critical for integrating satellite connectivity into existing mobile infrastructure on a massive scale.
Satellite-based direct-to-device services are targeting frequency bands between 694/698 MHz and 2.7 GHz. This represents a significant expansion beyond traditional satellite operations, which recently saw the FCC authorize E-band (71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz) and W-band spectrum use for specific operators.
The players
ITU Radiocommunication Bureau
The international body responsible for global spectrum management and orbital slot allocation under the Radio Regulations treaty.
GSMA
An industry association representing global mobile network operators and advocating for standardized telecom policy and infrastructure integration.
Mario Maniewicz
The current director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, managing the regulatory preparations for the upcoming 2027 conference cycle.
The details
The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) functions as a treaty-making body that defines Radio Regulations to manage the international radio-frequency spectrum. The GSMA—an industry organization representing mobile operators—is working with satellite associations to align business models with these international regulatory standards. The goal is to standardize signal processing for mobile handsets that communicate directly with satellites in orbit, bypassing the need for specialized hardware.
Timeline
September 16, 2026: Mario Maniewicz discussed space policy at World Space Business Week.
November 9-27, 2026: The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference will host director elections in Doha.
December 31, 2026: Mario Maniewicz concludes his four-year term as bureau head.
January 1, 2027: A newly elected bureau director assumes office.
October 18-November 12, 2027: WRC-27 takes place in Shanghai to finalize the regulatory agenda.
The Tech Race
The WRC-27 regulatory push follows an industry-wide surge in constellation filings that has outpaced existing international standards. This effort to define mobile-band usage is a direct response to the fragmented landscape of proprietary satellite-to-phone partnerships currently being deployed by satellite operators.
Consumers should expect a more seamless integration of satellite emergency and messaging features as standardized rules reduce the current hardware incompatibility issues. The transition to these regulated bands will occur after the 2027 conference, affecting how mobile devices switch between ground-based towers and orbital satellites.
The takeaway
The move toward a unified regulatory framework is a necessary prerequisite for scaling space-to-mobile services beyond experimental phases. Stakeholders should track the WRC-27 agenda finalized in Shanghai, as the chosen frequency bands will dictate the future technical requirements for mobile handsets worldwide.
What happens next
The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference election scheduled for November 9-27, 2026, will determine the leadership that guides the WRC-27 regulatory proceedings.
Further reading
For more on how space-based connectivity is reshaping global infrastructure, explore our Telecommunications archive.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Satnews.
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