Starlink looks set to sustain its dominance of direct-to-device (D2D, sometimes D2C) LEO satellite trials and deployments through 2025 as it underpins launch of the world’s first nationwide D2D texting service by One NZ in New Zealand. This comes as T-Mobile is on the verge of launching a similar service in the USA, also over SpaceX Starlink’s LEO constellation, of which there were 6,764 satellites in November 2024, at orbits around 550 km (342 miles). This is a prelude to the launch of D2D voice and data services later in 2025 in the USA at least, as well as IoT connectivity. At this stage the objective is to ensure uninterrupted connectivity, as users roam in remote areas, at least as…