Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile declared on Monday that they have signed a final long-term business contract that will last until 2034.
This partnership will increase internet connectivity throughout Vodafone’s global markets including strategic areas in Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands.
The basis for Vodafone’s provision of space-based cellular broadband connectivity in its home markets and to other operators through its Partner Markets program is established under this agreement.
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One of the biggest telecom firms in the world, Vodafone, has invested in AST SpaceMobile three times since 2018.
It is also a major technology partner in the company’s development, having enabled several firsts in the world for direct-to-device connectivity with common smartphones that verified 2G, 4G, and 5G capabilities.
AST SpaceMobile “first-ever” innovations
The first-ever space-based voice call to an unmodified phone was made in April 2023 by AST SpaceMobile and its partners.
Then came the first-ever 5G voice call in September 2023 and the first-ever 4G download speed exceeding 10 Mbps in June 2023.
Finally, using a 5 MHz channel, the business and its partners have shown over 20 mbps download rates to unmodified phones.
Customers to enjoy seamless internet connectivity through the partnership
Vodafone has ordered its first BlueBird gateway for Block 1. Customers who live outside of conventional cellular service can use their regular cellphones to connect straight to AST SpaceMobile’s low-Earth orbit satellites, which will then send the data to the gateway.
After that, these gateways will link to Vodafone’s current network infrastructure to send broadband data to consumers’ devices and enable them to access the Internet and third-party apps.
With communications arrays up to 2,400 square feet, the next-generation Block 2 BlueBirds are expected to provide up to ten times the bandwidth capacity of the current BlueBird satellites in orbit.
This will allow for peak data transmission speeds of up to 120 Mbps, supporting applications such as voice, full data, and video.
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AST SpaceMobile’s many partnership
In 2024, AST SpaceMobile won new contracts with the US Government, both directly and through prime contractors, and has also attracted more investment from AT&T, Verizon, Google, and Vodafone.
Vodafone Group, AT&T, Verizon, Rakuten Mobile, Bell Canada, Orange, Telefonica, TIM, Saudi Telecom Company, Zain KSA, Etisalat, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Telkomsel, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Millicom, Smartfren, Telecom Argentina, MTN, Telstra, Africell, Liberty Latin America, and others are among the more than 45 mobile network operators with which the company has agreements and which together have over 2.8 billion current subscribers.
AST SpaceMobile is currently owned by AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Google, Rakuten, American Tower, Cisneros Group, and Bell Canada.