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This week, Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile have announced a new joint venture, SatCo, to bring space-based mobile broadband to Europe. The company said it will aim to provide “100% geographic coverage in every part of Europe”
SatCo will act as the exclusive distributor of AST SpaceMobile’s satellite services across Europe, using Vodafone’s network and AST’s low Earth orbit (LEO) technology. The collaboration is set to deliver mobile broadband directly to users without requiring additional hardware or software.
“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’,” said Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle in a press release.
The company will be headquartered in Europe and will operate a network of ground stations to ensure secure and sovereign backhaul services. AST SpaceMobile’s satellites function as remote radio heads, maintaining core network control within MNOs.
In January, Vodafone announced that it had successfully conducted the world’s first space-based mobile video call using AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites. The demonstration showed that satellite broadband can integrate with Vodafone’s existing mobile networks. With commercial rollout planned for 2025 and 2026, the service will expand coverage to areas where traditional networks struggle, including mountains, rural locations, and open waters.
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