Luxembourg's OQ Technology Sends Europe's 1st Direct-to-Mobile Emergency Broadcast Message from Space

On Wednesday 19 November 2025, Luxembourg-based satellite connectivity provider OQ Technology announced that it had sent Europe's first emergency message from space directly to mobile phones.

The company said it achieved this milestone using its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to deliver a direct-to-mobile emergency broadcast message from space - transmitted directly to standard smartphones without any hardware or software modifications.

OQ Technology reported that it has thus become the first European satellite operator to demonstrate a direct-to-mobile emergency broadcast message, positioning the company "at the forefront of sovereign, secure and resilient space-based communications for public safety and disaster response", supported by 60 MHz of high-priority MSS S-band spectrum, upper C-band and International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) band partnerships.

The live demonstration in Luxembourg showed how OQ's LEO satellite network can transmit an emergency broadcast message directly to unmodified smartphones (including both iPhone and Android devices) ensuring citizens remain connected even when terrestrial networks are down, congested or disrupted by cyberattacks. The company described this capability as vital for public warning systems, disaster recovery and communications resilience across Europe and beyond.

"This achievement marks a turning point for Europe’s sovereign space capabilities," said Omar Qaise, founder and CEO of OQ Technology. "With our 60 MHz of high-priority MSS S-band spectrum and in-orbit infrastructure, OQ is building the foundation for a resilient and secure European direct-to-device service that connects people everywhere. With this milestone, we’ve proven that emergency broadcast messages can reach ordinary smartphones from space - anytime and anywhere."

As a European-headquartered satellite operator, OQ Technology is advancing 3GPP-compliant device-to-device (D2D) connectivity, ensuring "seamless" integration between satellite and terrestrial mobile networks. The company has contributed to multiple 3GPP working groups shaping the Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) standards that underpin global satellite-to-smartphone communication.

OQ added that aligning its technology roadmap with these standards ensures that its S-band D2D network can operate natively with existing smartphones and mobile chipsets - supporting global interoperability, low-cost scalability and widespread adoption across public and private networks. The company said this progress reinforces Europe's leadership in the emerging D2D ecosystem.

Following the successful emergency broadcast messaging demonstration, OQ Technology plans to demonstrate direct-to-mobile voice services in the coming year, marking the next milestone in its mission to expand European leadership in D2D connectivity.

"This next phase will demonstrate more cellular D2D services and capabilities such as text and voice directly from space to smartphones, further proving the versatility of our technology," said Omar Qaise.