AT&T has reached a major milestone by completing the first two-way audio call between a satellite and a standard smartphone.
The call originated from AT&T’s facility in Midland, Texas, and connected to mobile carrier Rakuten in Japan using a Samsung Galaxy S22 and AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 satellite.
Abel Avellan, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, said:
“Achieving what many once considered impossible, we have reached the most significant milestone to date in our quest to deliver global cellular broadband from space.
While we take a moment to celebrate this tremendous accomplishment, we remain focused on the path ahead and the pivotal next steps that get us closer to our goal of transforming the way the world connects.
I am immensely proud of our team and our incredible partners, whose unwavering dedication and tireless efforts have brought us to this pivotal moment.”
This breakthrough could expand cellular access across the United States and in developing regions. Conventional mobile calls rely on nearby cell towers, which are sparse or absent in rural areas, national parks, and many parts of low-income countries. Space-based systems like BlueWalker 3 can act as orbiting cell towers, providing coverage where terrestrial infrastructure is impractical or unavailable.
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman & CEO of Rakuten, described the event as a “world-first direct-to-satellite experience,” congratulating AST SpaceMobile and its partners for advancing space-based connectivity. He noted that such technological progress supports Rakuten’s goal of widening access to communication services.
AT&T’s satellite initiative aims to deliver global cellular broadband spanning 2G through 5G, with the potential to narrow the digital divide and enable broader participation in the global digital economy.
“AT&T’s heritage began with the birth of the telephone 147 years ago and has continued with many other firsts including the transcontinental call, the overseas call, the call from the moon, and partnering to deliver the only network built with and for America’s first responders,” said Chris Sambar, Head of AT&T Network. “We connect people to greater possibility, and this important milestone with AST SpaceMobile is a big step and we can’t wait to see what’s next in our space-based journey.”
Other major US carriers are pursuing similar strategies with different partners. Verizon is collaborating with Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellite network, which plans a constellation of thousands of satellites and must bring at least half of them online by July 2026 per regulatory requirements. T‑Mobile is working with SpaceX, which has already launched thousands of Starlink V2 satellites; T‑Mobile indicates that many existing plans and phones will be compatible with its upcoming satellite options.
Although direct-to-phone satellite services are not yet broadly available to consumers, this test represents an important step toward making satellite-backed mobile coverage widely accessible.
(Image Credit: AST SpaceMobile)
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