Vodafone says it has made the world's first space video call from an area with no coverage using a standard 4G/5G smartphone and AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites, which are designed to offer a full mobile broadband experience. A Vodafone engineer put it to the test by making a space-based video call to the CEO of Vodafone Group from a remote mountainous location in mid-Wales, where there has never been mobile broadband before, according to Vodafone.
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Space-Based Connectivity
Vodafone says "Unlike today's satellite-based services, users do not need a special dish, terminal or expensive satellite phone to benefit from full mobile broadband connectivity. The service they will receive mirrors the experience of existing 4G and 5G mobile networks, enabling them to use everyday smartphones to switch between space and ground-based networks automatically."
"It is the only satellite technology of its kind built to offer a full mobile broadband experience and paves the way for universal digital connectivity and the closure of mobile coverage gaps," Vodafone added.
Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone Group said: "Vodafone's job is to get everyone connected, no matter where they are. Our advanced European 5G network will now be complemented with cutting-edge satellite technology."
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Vodafone is a long-time investor in AST SpaceMobile and a key technology partner.
Together with Vodafone, "we have achieved several world firsts in space-based broadband connectivity, including the first-ever space-based voice call, the first-ever 4G download speed above 10 Mbps, and the first-ever 5G voice call," said Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. "This latest achievement using our BlueBird satellites, takes us one step closer to our mission to eliminate connectivity gaps and make cellular broadband accessible to all."
"Operating from low Earth orbit, it (the AST SpaceMobile network) is the only satellite service in the world today that offers mobile broadband directly to multiple 4G or 5G smartphones, Vodafone said, noting, "Direct-to-mobile broadband satellite is a fully integrated extension of its existing land-based fibre and mobile networks."
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Rollout plans
Following further tests this Spring, Vodafone says it aims to progressively introduce the direct-to-smartphone broadband satellite service commercially in markets across Europe later this year and in 2026 to close the last remaining coverage gaps.
Currently, five AST SpaceMobile satellites, called Bluebird 1 – 5, allow Vodafone to test mobile broadband connectivity directly to existing smartphones at peak data transmission speeds of up to 120 Mbps.
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The company highlighted that, "AST SpaceMobile operates the first and only mobile broadband network in space that works directly with standard, unmodified smartphones for multiple users. This goes beyond other low Earth orbit satellite constellations which have so far only facilitated text messaging."
