Interest in satellite-based internet services is growing in Germany, with 39% of consumers saying they would consider using the technology, up four percentage points from a year earlier.
The survey of 2,000 people, conducted by consultancy firm Deloitte between March and April, found that around one-third of respondents would be willing to pay up to €5 ($5.80) a month extra for satellite connectivity on smartphones.
Deloitte said satellite communications were evolving from a niche solution for remote areas into a meaningful complement to existing telecommunications infrastructure. Respondents cited ease of use and reliability among the main advantages of satellite services.
At the same time, concerns remain. Twenty-one percent of those surveyed said they did not trust providers, while 29% considered alternative technologies more capable and 34% believed there were cheaper alternatives.
Satellite broadband services are already available in Germany, and major telecom operators are preparing to expand satellite-based mobile services through partnerships with international providers. Deutsche Telekom is working with US provider Starlink, Vodafone with AST SpaceMobile and O2 Telefónica with OQ Technology.
The survey also highlighted concerns about technological dependence. Nearly half of respondents said Germany's telecommunications sector was dependent on foreign technology, but a majority said they were unwilling to pay higher prices for European alternatives.
Only 30% said they would accept a surcharge of up to €10 per month for European telecommunications technology, even if it involved lower network performance.
