NTN Automotive Connectivity in Action: Cubic3 at MWC 2026
Following our last blog on Mobile World Congress 2026, we had set was the stage for a significant Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) automotive connectivity milestone, a live demonstration of satellite-enabled voice calling for software-defined vehicles, delivered by Cubic3 alongside Viasat, Qualcomm Technologies, and Fraunhofer IIS.
Watch André Schlufter, Director of Automotive Connectivity Innovation at Cubic3, explain and demonstrate exactly what was achieved.
André Schlufter, Director of Automotive Connectivity Innovation at Cubic3, demonstrates live satellite voice calling for connected vehicles at MWC 2026.
What the NTN Automotive Connectivity Demonstration Showed
The demonstration showed a voice call conducted entirely over a 3GPP-compliant non-terrestrial satellite network — meaning vehicles can maintain voice connectivity even where cellular coverage is unavailable or unreliable.
For OEMs, that matters most in two areas: emergency access and driver safety applications that cannot afford gaps in coverage.
The NTN Automotive Connectivity Stack
Partners and Technology
The technical stack brought together:
- Viasat’s satellite network
- Cubic3’s global connectivity management platform and hybrid eSIM
- Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 Platform
- The NESC voice codec from Fraunhofer IIS
- Additional infrastructure support from Amarisoft
Building on the Viasat Partnership
The demo builds on the June 2025 Viasat and Cubic3 partnership, combining satellite and terrestrial connectivity for global vehicle communications. It advances from architecture to working technology and lays the groundwork for future NTN-enabled services — including video streaming as 5G-NR satellite capability matures.
What This Means for the Automotive Industry
Cubic3, Viasat, and Qualcomm are all active members of 5GAA, and continue to work with industry partners on advancing global connectivity standards for the automotive sector.
NTN automotive connectivity moves vehicles beyond the boundaries of terrestrial networks — enabling always-on safety, emergency, and data services regardless of where a vehicle operates.
