Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile create European satellite constellation and will open a control center in Germany
Operators launch joint venture for direct satellite communication with smartphones. Commercial launch planned for 2026.
Operators launch joint venture for direct satellite communication with smartphones. Commercial launch planned for 2026.
The European operations center of the system will be located in Germany: the outskirts of Munich or Hanover are being considered as locations, and the management will be carried out by a joint venture between Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile. According to Reuters, the network is aimed at commercial and government users in Europe and should complement terrestrial mobile networks.
The infrastructure includes a «command switch». This means that satellite management, key updates and control of communication channels take place in Europe and according to European rules, and not outside the EU. The center will provide connectivity for mobile operators throughout Europe, support broadband services and communications for civil protection services and during emergency response. According to Novaspace, the direct «telephone-satellite» market could exceed $10 billion by 2033.
Amidst the competition, SpaceX is moving in its own direction: Starlink recently signed a global direct-to-cell agreement with Veon (it is introducing this communication standard in Ukraine through Kyivstar).
This potentially gives access to over 150 million users, and also receives additional spectrum licenses worth $2.6 billion from EchoStar. Against this background, Vodafone reports interest from operators from 21 EU countries, while AST SpaceMobile plans to deploy approximately 60 satellites by 2026. The company currently has six devices in orbit.
Vodafone invests in AST SpaceMobile and positions the initiative as a «sovereign» European solution with centralized control and encryption. At the same time, Europe is accelerating the integration of the satellite segment into 5G-Advanced and the upcoming 6G to increase network survivability and eliminate «white spots» of coverage in remote regions. The official release confirms the choice of Germany as the base for the European operations center.
dev.ua previously reported on how Vodafone made the «world’s first» satellite video call using AST partner SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites. The technology will provide users with broadband mobile connectivity with any 4G/5G smartphone in remote areas where traditional mobile coverage is lacking.
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