Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile have entered into two new collaborations in the field of mobile communication via satellites. Together, the two companies will establish a new space and land-based mobile broadband research and validation center in partnership with the University of Málaga. Additionally, a new company named SatCo will be established to provide 100% coverage across Europe, offering secure mobile broadband connections to consumers and businesses.

Vodafone Group and AST SpaceMobile have formed a new partnership in satellite-based broadband technology. The two companies have signed an agreement to establish a joint European satellite service operator to provide satellite-based mobile broadband technology designed for commercial and government applications, directly accessible via smartphones for all mobile network operators in Europe.

The new company, named SatCo, aims to achieve 100% geographical coverage across Europe, providing consumers and businesses with secure satellite-based mobile broadband connections through mobile network operators. Vodafone Group CEO Margherita Della Valle stated, “Vodafone’s satellite-based mobile broadband technology will keep our customers connected wherever they are. Our new satellite company will be able to offer this technology to other European mobile operators through a turnkey service that combines this technology with Vodafone’s network and engineering expertise and AST SpaceMobile’s ‘antennas in the sky.'” AST SpaceMobile CEO Abel Avellan also commented, “Together with Vodafone, we are ready to accelerate our commercialization plans across Europe and take an important step towards turning satellite-based mobile broadband into reality.”

Research Center to be Established in Collaboration with University A new space and land-based mobile broadband research and validation center will be established in Europe by Vodafone, AST SpaceMobile, and the University of Málaga. Supported by the Spanish Space Agency, the center will open in the summer of 2025 within Vodafone’s Innovation Center in Málaga.

The center will focus on developing combined low-orbit space and land-based integrated mobile broadband services. This will allow customers to seamlessly transition between satellite and 4G/5G networks using their existing smartphones. The center will adopt Open Radio Access Network (RAN) principles to promote the establishment of new space/land ecosystems that define common standards across Europe. The project aims to foster a new European ecosystem consisting of unified satellite and land connection solutions by inviting third-party technology companies and developers in addition to Vodafone’s partners AST SpaceMobile and the University of Málaga.

The new center will focus on advancing new and open-source hardware, software, process chip designs, and their testing and validation for interoperability between space and land-based networks. The center will house a gateway between space and land-based networks.

Through this project, partners and other operators will have the opportunity to test and validate the services that will be delivered via AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites before commercial deployment. This will foster innovation across the industry, encouraging partnerships to deliver universal connectivity services faster and more efficiently. Vodafone will transform this center into a fully managed network and service operations center for third-party companies in Europe. Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile have also signed an agreement to establish a new company that will provide direct satellite services to devices. This new venture will distribute AST SpaceMobile’s satellite services to mobile network operators in Europe under a single turnkey arrangement. Backed by Vodafone’s advanced engineering expertise, the new company will be supported by a network management and operations center infrastructure in Europe. SatCo will build a network of ground stations across Europe for mobile network operators and will relay data from this network to the low-orbit satellite network.

First Space-Based Mobile Video Call Completed Last January, Vodafone achieved the world’s first space-based mobile video call using AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites in an area with no mobile coverage, taking a significant step towards providing mobile coverage to 340 million customers in 15 countries and network partners in 45 markets. Vodafone is leading the introduction of commercial space-based mobile broadband connections across Europe in 2025 and 2026.

Vodafone Turkey recently conducted successful voice and SMS tests using the BlueWalker3 test satellite belonging to AST SpaceMobile. This successful test, carried out in a rural and mountainous area between Bolu and Düzce without the use of additional equipment or software, using standard phones, is a first in Turkey and globally, making it of great importance after tests conducted by AST in the United States.

AST SpaceMobile provides a unique satellite technology that will offer mobile broadband directly to numerous 4G or 5G smartphones without requiring any special software or device support worldwide. This technology seamlessly complements Vodafone’s land-based networks. The satellite acts as a complementary technology providing coverage in areas where no existing mobile or fixed alternatives are available. The satellite service and land-based network together will offer a communication infrastructure that will be accessible throughout Europe, including mountainous areas and seas, at any time, enhancing general resilience.