AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone Group have extended their existing cellular satellite connectivity agreement.
The duo announced this week that a new deal has been agreed until 2034. Vodafone is a long-time investor in AST SpaceMobile, a Texas-based satellite designer and manufacturer.
AST SpaceMobile said that the agreement "establishes the framework for Vodafone to offer space-based cellular broadband connectivity in its home markets as well as to other operators via its partner markets program."
Vodafone has already conducted trials with the satellite firm. In January, it joined AT&T and Google to invest $155 million in AST SpaceMobile.
AT&T has previously partnered with the company to trial its technology. The 2023 demonstration of 2G, 4G LTE, and 5G calls offered 14 Mbps download speeds per 5 Mhz channels – directly to unmodified smartphones.
Founded in 2017, the company’s first test satellite, Bluewalker 1 was launched in 2019; Bluewalker 2 was canceled. Its latest test satellite, Bluewalker 3, launched in 2022.
AST was 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.
AST noted that Vodafone has placed an order for its first Block 1 BlueBird gateway, marking a milestone in the deployment of AST SpaceMobile's global network infrastructure.
Elon Musk's SpaceX deployed AST SpaceMobile’s first five in-house-built Block 1 commercial BlueBird satellites back in September.
AST SpaceMobile noted that its next-generation Block 2 BlueBirds feature up to 2,400 square foot communications arrays, and are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird satellites in orbit today.
Globally, AST SpaceMobile has agreements with more than 45 mobile network operators, including Vodafone Group, AT&T, Verizon, Rakuten Mobile, Bell Canada, Orange, Telefonica, TIM, Saudi Telecom Company, Zain KSA, Etisalat, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, and more.
SpaceX has a partnership with T-Mobile for its direct-to-smartphone connectivity service. It launched its first batch of satellites for direct-to-smartphone connectivity on January 2.
In other recent satellite news:
- The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced it will loan Spanish satellite operator Sateliot €30 million ($32m) to co-finance the rollout of its constellation of over 100 LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites, aimed at providing Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.
- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has selected Tokyo-based start-up ArkEdge Space to lead the development of advanced lunar navigation technology. The program, which has been supported by up to 5 billion yen (US$32.5 million) over four years, will see ArkEdge support the planning and design of mass production and operation of micro-satellite constellations to lead the development of a next-generation Lunar Navigation Satellite System (LNSS)
- Cloudflare reported that global Internet traffic from SpaceX’s satellite Internet service, Starlink, more than tripled in 2024. Starlink has signed a number of connectivity deals this year to deliver connectivity to underserved areas, while it's also penned a number of in-flight connectivity partnerships, including Air France and United Airlines.
- Kongsberg Satellites Services (KSAT) announced it has chosen to work with Starsite to host, maintain, and operate a new Lunar site in Western Australia. The partnership will see KSAT build a 20-meter antenna for their new site in the region. The land is owned by Starsite, who will also maintain and operate the antenna.
- Mavenir and Canadian mobile satellite operator Terrestar Solutions Inc (TSI) have successfully conducted the first NB-IoT live data sessions via the TSI EchoStar T1 satellite, a Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) NTN. The test was carried out in real-world conditions, according to Mavenir.
- Orbit Communication Systems has been awarded a $9.1 million contract by the Israeli Ministry of Defense to deliver advanced Multi-Purpose Terminals (MPTs) for both mobile and stationary platforms. The delivery of the terminals is set for next year.
- Rivada Networks, Inc. unveiled the formation of Rivada Select, a new wholly owned subsidiary established as a proxy organization to serve the specialized needs of US government and defense customers. It follows the company recently being awarded a Virtual Network Operator (VNO) contract with the US Navy.
- The UK subsidiary of Japan's Astroscale is preparing for a critical design review of a service that plans to remove a OneWeb satellite from its low Earth orbit.