AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone sign long-term agreement for global connectivity

AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone sign long-term agreement for global connectivity
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 13, 2024

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. and Vodafone Group Plc (LSE: VOD) have formalized a commercial partnership extending through 2034, marking a major development in their joint mission to deliver broadband connectivity on a global scale.

The agreement allows Vodafone to provide space-based cellular broadband services across its primary markets and through its Partner Markets program, enabling extended reach to operators worldwide.

Since 2018, Vodafone, one of the largest global telecommunications companies, has invested in AST SpaceMobile three times and played a vital role as a technology partner. This collaboration has led to multiple innovations in direct-to-device connectivity, achieving significant milestones, including the first space-based voice call to an unmodified phone in April 2023. In June 2023, they accomplished the first 4G download speed above 10 Mbps, followed by the inaugural 5G voice call in September 2023. Recently, AST SpaceMobile has demonstrated over 20 Mbps download speeds to standard smartphones using a 5 MHz channel.

As part of the agreement, Vodafone has placed an order for its first Block 1 BlueBird gateway, a critical step in deploying AST SpaceMobile's satellite-based network. This infrastructure enables smartphones outside traditional cellular coverage to connect directly to low Earth orbit satellites, with data routed to the BlueBird gateways and integrated into Vodafone's existing terrestrial network.

The future deployment of Block 2 BlueBird satellites, featuring expansive 2,400 square-foot communications arrays, will enhance network performance significantly. These satellites are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth of current models, achieving peak speeds of 120 Mbps and supporting advanced voice, data, and video services.

AST SpaceMobile's progress in 2024 includes strategic investments from AT&T, Verizon, Google, and Vodafone, alongside new contracts with the U.S. Government. With agreements spanning over 45 mobile network operators and a combined subscriber base of 2.8 billion, AST SpaceMobile collaborates with key players such as AT&T, Verizon, Rakuten Mobile, Bell Canada, Orange, and others. Existing investors include AT&T, Vodafone, Google, Rakuten, and Bell Canada, among others.