As AI reshapes the telecommunications industry, the infrastructure supporting global connectivity is also evolving. For decades, networks have relied primarily on terrestrial infrastructure such as fiber cables and cellular towers. Now, satellite connectivity is emerging as a critical extension of those networks, enabling broader coverage, new services and new architectures for AI-driven connectivity.

At MWC, a panel discussion moderated by Meenakshi Benjwal, Global Industry Marketing Head for TMT Industries at HCLTech, explored how satellite networks are transforming digital infrastructure. The conversation featured Joe Lawrence, CTO Telecom at HCLTech, and Asit Tandon, Chief Network and Information Officer at Telesat.

Together, they discussed how satellite connectivity, AI orchestration and new business models are redefining the future of telecommunications.

Extending connectivity beyond terrestrial networks

Fiber and cellular towers remain the foundation of global connectivity. However, their reach is not unlimited. Remote regions, maritime routes, aviation corridors and rural areas often remain beyond the practical limits of terrestrial infrastructure.

Tandon explained that satellite connectivity helps fill these gaps by extending coverage where traditional infrastructure cannot reach.

“When we talk about beyond towers, what it means is coverage everywhere,” said Tandon. “Fiber and towers are excellent where they are, but when you come to the edges, remote rural areas, maritime, aviation, they have their own limitations.”

Satellite networks, often described as non-terrestrial networks, are not designed to replace terrestrial systems. Instead, they complement existing infrastructure “and play a very important role” by expanding coverage and resilience.

The role of satellites is also evolving. Instead of operating as isolated systems, they are increasingly integrated with terrestrial networks into a unified connectivity fabric.

“What AI is doing is treating these networks as a unified, intent-based programmable connectivity [layer],” said Tandon.

Satellite connectivity in the AI era

The expansion of AI-driven applications is placing new demands on connectivity infrastructure. Intelligent systems require reliable connectivity across geographies and environments that traditional infrastructure cannot always reach.

Lawrence said advances in satellite technology are helping close that gap.

“What it actually opens up is not just in terms of where LEO and GEO satellites [are] used; not just for regions where there is a lack of global connectivity,” said Lawrence. “What is being transformed here is the ability to offer mobile connectivity even to major cities where there are wireless towers.”

Historically, latency was one of the main obstacles to using satellite networks for real-time connectivity. Advances in low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites are significantly reducing those delays.

With these improvements, satellite connectivity is no longer limited to niche use cases. Instead, it is becoming part of the broader architecture of next-generation telecom networks.

This shift also creates an opportunity to rethink legacy telecommunications systems. Many operators still rely on complex operational support systems and business support systems designed for earlier generations of network infrastructure.

“You can completely re-architect and re-engineer the system,” said Lawrence.

AI orchestrating hybrid networks

AI is playing a central role in coordinating connectivity across terrestrial and satellite infrastructure. By combining these networks into a programmable architecture, operators can dynamically manage resources and optimize performance.

Tandon explained that satellite networks are now being designed as a core element of enterprise connectivity rather than as a fallback solution.

“Non-terrestrial networks are now being considered in enterprise architecture from day one,” said Tandon.

For decades, satellites were often viewed as redundant infrastructure. That perception is now changing as organizations begin to treat satellite connectivity as part of their primary network design.

AI enables these networks to allocate resources dynamically based on demand and application requirements. For example, satellite beams can be redirected toward areas experiencing higher traffic or mission-critical workloads.

“At the control layer, AI orchestrates based on the capabilities of these networks,” said Tandon.

This orchestration enables intelligent traffic prioritization across hybrid networks.

“You follow the demand, steer the beams in that particular direction and then you do policy enforcement and traffic prioritization,” said Tandon.

From the user perspective, the experience remains seamless regardless of which network is delivering the connection.

“The end users and applications do not feel the difference whether they are going through connectivity A or connectivity B,” added Tandon.

Evolving telecom business models

As networks become programmable and AI-driven, telecom operators are also rethinking their business models. Traditional pricing structures focused primarily on bandwidth consumption.

However, new services built on AI-enabled connectivity are shifting that model.

“The digital business models have to evolve and change,” said Tandon.

Instead of charging only for bandwidth, operators are exploring models based on service quality, application performance and user experience.

“The pricing models will change [a] pure bandwidth-based model to [an] experience-based model,” explained Tandon.

These shifts are not only technical but strategic. According to Tandon, they are already being discussed at the highest levels of telecom leadership.

“This is being talked about at the board level and at the CEO level,” he said.

Lawrence added that these changes can help enterprises improve operational efficiency while unlocking new revenue streams.

“This is also going to help each one of those enterprises increase their top line and also reduce the bottom line,” said Lawrence.

Enabling new industrial applications

Hybrid networks that combine terrestrial and satellite connectivity also enable new types of AI-powered industrial applications.

Lawrence highlighted examples from industrial operations where remote monitoring systems are used to detect risks across large facilities.

Even small defects can have significant consequences in large-scale infrastructure environments.

“Even a very small rust spot in a manufacturing plant could open doors for millions of dollars in liabilities,” said Lawrence.

Satellite connectivity allows AI-enabled drones to inspect facilities and transmit data back to operators without requiring engineers to be physically present.

“With satellite communication, those drones will be completely AI-operated and remotely managed,” said Lawrence.

In many cases, those systems can be operated from remote locations around the world.

“They could be operating from another part of the world because of satellite communication,” added Lawrence.

Cybersecurity in space-based networks

As satellite constellations expand, cybersecurity becomes an increasingly important concern. Each satellite and ground station represents another potential point of vulnerability.

Tandon explained that the growing number of LEO satellites and ground control systems increases the overall attack surface.

“As the lower orbit satellites are proliferating in huge numbers and their control systems on the ground are increasing, the attack area for bad actors is also increasing,” said Tandon.

Protecting these networks requires securing both infrastructure and the AI models that manage them.

“We have to not only protect the infrastructure, but we also have to protect the AI models which are running this infrastructure,” said Tandon.

AI systems themselves must also be protected from manipulation.

“AI models have to be guardrailed to avoid what is called model poisoning,” he added.

To address these risks, cybersecurity systems must evolve alongside AI-driven network architectures.

“The cybersecurity solutions and tools have to be AI-aware architectures,” said Tandon.

Preparing for the next generation of networks

Satellite connectivity is also expected to play an important role in the transition toward future generations of telecommunications networks.

Lawrence noted that industry discussions around 6G are already influencing how operators think about network design and bandwidth allocation.

“There’s a lot of conversation about 6G [as we move beyond the 5G era],” said Lawrence.

Satellite networks expand the possibilities for coverage and connectivity as the industry moves toward those future architectures.

Rather than simply upgrading existing infrastructure, operators now have the opportunity to design new architectures optimized for AI-driven services and hybrid connectivity.

“We can tap into some of the best engineering minds at HCLTech and work with companies like Telesat to bring something extraordinary to the market,” said Lawrence.

A new foundation for global connectivity

As telecommunications networks evolve, satellites are moving from the periphery of network design to the center of it.

What was once considered primarily a backup layer is now becoming a core component of the digital infrastructure supporting AI-enabled services and hybrid connectivity. Increasingly, satellite networks are being integrated into enterprise architectures alongside terrestrial networks.

Lawrence noted that the shift is already enabling new use cases across industries. Platforms such as HCLTech’s VisionX and AI ERS are helping enterprises deploy AI-driven inspection and monitoring systems that rely on satellite connectivity to operate at scale. By combining AI, edge intelligence and satellite networks, organizations can monitor distributed assets and run autonomous operations across locations that were previously difficult to reach.

As the conversation concluded, Benjwal asked the panellists to summarize what the next era of satellite connectivity would look like.

“Satellite is no longer an insurance policy. It is a strategic pillar of digital connectivity,” said Tandon.

“Beyond towers,” said Lawrence.