Exploring security risks in satellite direct-to-cell (DTC) networks

As satellite-based network infrastructure increasingly integrates with cellular protocols to provide "Satellite Only" coverage in remote regions, new security vulnerabilities emerge regarding user privacy. Unlike standard satellite internet that uses specialized terminals, Direct-to-Cell (DTC) services enable unmodified smartphones to communicate with satellites over LTE bands, often transmitting uplink signals omnidirectionally. This project investigates whether the proliferation of these services exposes users to terrestrial security attacks, specifically focusing on user profiling and location tracking. By employing a low-cost software-defined radio (SDR) to monitor known cellphone-satellite uplink frequencies, we aim to demonstrate that DTC users can be uniquely identified via their physical signals and localized by cheap, ground-based receivers.