By Shreyanka Nandan
The UK-based telecom provider, Vodaphone claims to provide the world’s first space communication through smartphones. Video calling from a no coverage area, using a standard 4G/5G smartphone and AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites, offers a full mobile broadband experience. Engineer Rowan Chesmer, put it to test by making a space-based video call to the CEO of the Vodaphone Group, Margherita Della Valle from the remote location of mid-Wales, where a broad-band connection has never existed before.
The call landed at Vodafone’s new space-to-land gateway, which channels signals from users’ smartphones via AST Space Mobile’s BlueBird satellites. It was a significant achievement and is a step forward in global telecommunications.
According to the Vodafone CEO, “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.”
Vodaphone is the primary technology partner and investor in AST SpaceMobile. The company plans to bring this satellite calling technology across Europe, especially in areas without cellular coverage. This accessibility of cellular broadband will help with communication during any emergencies.
Additionally, the Founding Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile talked about their experience with Vodaphone pointing out their achievements in establishing broadband connectivities, the first ever 5G voice call, and now this latest update added to their accomplishments.
Presently, five AST SpaceMobile satellites called Bluebird 1-5, allow Vodaphone to test connectivity directly to the existing smartphones at peak data transmission rate of up to 120 megabits per second for regular smartphones. Furthermore, Vodaphone has plans to expand this project and start direct-to-smartphone broadband satellite services commercially in markets across Europe in the upcoming years to close any connectivity gaps.