Satellite cellular network provider AST SpaceMobile has strengthened its partnership with telecom giant Vodafone.
The agreement, extending through 2034, enables Vodafone to integrate satellite-based cellular connectivity across its main markets and to offer those services to other operators via its Partner Markets programme.
This expanded collaboration advances both companies’ shared goal of delivering dependable global broadband coverage, with a particular focus on serving remote and underserved areas.
Collaborative achievements
Vodafone has been a strategic partner of AST SpaceMobile since 2018, acting as an investor and technology collaborator.
Building on those ties, AST SpaceMobile reached several milestones: in April 2023 it completed the world’s first space-based voice call using a standard mobile phone; in June 2023 it demonstrated the first 4G download speeds from space exceeding 10 Mbps; and in September 2023 it achieved the first 5G voice call from space.
AST SpaceMobile’s tests have shown download speeds above 20 Mbps on a 5 MHz channel, highlighting the capacity potential for end users. Vodafone’s involvement in these developments has helped pave the way for broader deployment: the operator has placed an order for AST SpaceMobile’s Block 1 BlueBird gateway, a critical ground segment element of the satellite broadband network.
Bringing space connectivity to everyday devices
AST SpaceMobile operates a network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites designed to connect users who are outside traditional cellular coverage using their existing smartphones, with no special hardware required on the consumer side.
The system relies on BlueBird gateways on the ground: LEO satellites link directly to smartphones in the field and route data through these land-based gateways into terrestrial networks. Vodafone’s acquisition of a Block 1 BlueBird gateway supports the integration of AST SpaceMobile’s satellite links with Vodafone’s infrastructure, enabling voice, video and data to flow seamlessly to and from mobile devices.
AST SpaceMobile is also preparing its next-generation Block 2 BlueBird gateways, which will use much larger communications arrays—up to 2,400 square feet—and are designed to deliver as much as ten times the capacity of earlier spacecraft.
Once deployed, these newer satellites are expected to reach peak transmission rates around 120 Mbps, opening the door to high-bandwidth applications such as streaming, video conferencing and full web browsing for users outside conventional coverage areas.
A growing satellite cellular network alliance
Vodafone joins more than 45 mobile network operators that have signed agreements with AST SpaceMobile, collectively representing an estimated 2.8 billion subscribers. Major operators including AT&T, Verizon, Orange, Telefónica and Telstra have also partnered with AST SpaceMobile to evaluate and adopt space-enabled connectivity solutions.
In 2024 AST SpaceMobile further strengthened ties with strategic industry backers and investors; notable supporters include AT&T, Verizon and Google. The company has also won significant contracts with the U.S. government, both directly and through partnerships with prime contractors.
AST SpaceMobile’s customer base spans global and regional carriers such as Rakuten Mobile, Bell Canada, Saudi Telecom Company, Zain KSA, Etisalat, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Telkomsel, along with emerging-market operators like Smart Communications and Africell—reflecting the company’s ambition to enable truly global connectivity.
Backed by a portfolio of proprietary technology and patents, AST SpaceMobile is developing a global broadband network capable of connecting directly with unmodified mobile phones.
With the renewed agreement in place, AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone are focused on translating satellite cellular milestones into practical, widely available services that make reliable cellular broadband accessible to billions of users.
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