Vodafone joint venture aims to close coverage gaps via satellite
Anyone who no longer has terrestrial reception with their mobile phone will soon be able to continue making calls or transmitting data via satellite.
(Image: Vodafone)
Providers of satellite services see a lucrative business in mobile communications from space. With Satellite Connect Europe, a joint venture between Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile, a European market player has now officially commenced operations. Vodafone announced this on the occasion of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
Satellite Connect Europe sees itself as a service provider for European mobile network operators. Its unique selling proposition is that everything comes from European hands, as Vodafone emphasizes in a press release. As an “open, European-controlled” provider, it aims to offer Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite broadband in Europe. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg. The operations center is located in Germany.
Europe-first as a unique selling proposition
This is a clear challenge to the US company SpaceX, which is planning a D2D service together with the Telekom subsidiary T-Mobile. Considering the increasing tensions between Europe and the USA, Vodafone is now trying to score points with European data sovereignty. Network operation, data processing, and service control remain entirely within the European legal framework. The EU is pursuing a similar goal with the state satellite communication system Govsatcom, which recently went into operation.
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Satellite Connect Europe plans five ground stations in Europe. Construction has already begun on two of them, in Spain and Great Britain. Three further locations are in the final planning phase. It is still unclear when the first network operators will offer the services.
No special device necessary
Users can use the satellites with their standard 4G and 5G smartphones. No special equipment is needed. The devices automatically switch between the terrestrial network and the satellite. All services, such as voice calls, video calls, and internet access, should thus be possible even in areas without mobile coverage. AST SpaceMobile already demonstrated some time ago that the technology works with the first Direct-to-Cell video call using standard smartphones. AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites achieve peak data rates of up to 120 Mbit/s. Meanwhile, car manufacturers are also working on similar solutions and demonstrating direct satellite communication in cars for emergency calls and hazard warnings.
(mki)
