Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile have signed an agreement to create a European direct-to-device satellite service business.
Named SatCo (for now), the venture will aim to provide 100 percent geographic coverage in every part of Europe, distributing AST SpaceMobile’s satellite services to European mobile network operators.
Consumer and business customers will have access to secure space-based cellular broadband connectivity via their mobile network operator.
The company will build a full network management and network operations center in Europe, with SatCo building and operating a network of ground stations to provide backhaul services to the satellite network in low Earth orbit.
AST SpaceMobile’s satellites already operate as remote radio heads, and the core network capability remains with the mobile network operator.
SatCo’s solution will fully support European digital sovereignty.
Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group CEO, said: “Vodafone’s space-based mobile broadband will mean our customers can stay connected, wherever they are. Our new satellite company will be able to offer this pioneering technology to other European mobile operators through a turnkey service that combines Vodafone’s leading network and engineering with AST SpaceMobile’s ‘antennas in the sky’.”
Abel Avellan, CEO, founder, and chairman of AST SpaceMobile, added: “Together with Vodafone, we are poised to accelerate our commercialization plans across all of Europe, making true mobile broadband from space a reality.”
Vodafone partnered with AST SpaceMobile earlier this year to conduct the world’s first space video call in the UK. They also partnered with the University of Malaga to launch a space and land mobile broadband research and validation hub last month.
The pair has an existing connectivity agreement, which was recently extended until 2034.
Founded in 2017, AST’s first test satellite, Bluewalker 1 was launched in 2019; Bluewalker 2 was canceled. Its latest test satellite, Bluewalker 3, launched in 2022. Its first commercial satellites, BlueBirds 1-5 were launched last year.
AST was originally planning a constellation of almost 170 satellites; the first 20 were originally due to enter operation by 2023, with another 90 deployed through 2024. According to more recent press releases, it seems to have revised its constellation plans down to 100.
Verizon and AT&T carried out a video call similar to the one carried out with Vodafone last week, which used AST’s BlueBird satellites.
Verizon and AT&T, along with Vodafone, are all investors in AST SpaceMobile, rivaling Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink.
