Vodafone’s Historic Achievement
Vodafone successfully makes the world’s first satellite video call using a standard smartphone
Vodafone first satellite video call: Vodafone has made the “world’s first” satellite video call using a standard smartphone in a test of a system it says will provide mobile broadband service to 4G and 5G phones without dedicated satellite hardware. The service is expected to launch in Europe before the end of 2025, using satellites from SpaceX rival AST Space Mobile.
AT&T and Verizon Team Up with AST SpaceMobile to Bring Satellite Connectivity to US Smartphones
AT&T and Verizon have struck a deal with Texas-based AST SpaceMobile to provide satellite-to-smartphone services across the US. Vodafone’s company has received FCC approval for AT&T to begin testing its US-based coverage this spring, meaning a full rollout is likely to lag behind Europe.
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Last year, SpaceX demonstrated its own Starlink satellite-based video call between two US-based crews using “unmodified mobile phones.” That means Vodafone‘s attempt may not be quite a world first, though, as unlike SpaceX, it made the call from a remote area where there is apparently no existing cell service.
Vodafone’s First Satellite Video Call: Engineer and His Dog Connect from a Remote Mountain
For Vodafone’s demonstration, an engineer (and, fascinatingly, his dog) called Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle from an unnamed “remote mountain area” in Wales, which the company says has never had mobile coverage before. The quality isn’t great—there are interruptions in the video, and there’s noticeable lag—but the call, which lasts about 45 seconds, seems stable.
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Vodafone’s Satellite Internet: 4G & 5G Connectivity Without Special Hardware
AST SpaceMobile’s satellite system connects using standard 4G and 5G signals, so there’s no need to use a phone with dedicated satellite components. Beyond video calling, Vodafone says it offers a “full mobile broadband experience” with maximum speeds of up to 120 megabits per second, which is “far higher than other low Earth orbit satellite constellations that to date only offer text messaging.”
This satellite connectivity is already available on some iPhone and Google Pixel phones that include a specific modem component, though it’s mostly limited to emergency alerts, location sharing, and SMS messages for now. T-Mobile is beta testing its own US network in partnership with Starlink Direct-to-Cell service, which will work with standard smartphones in the near future, but it will be limited to text messages at first and will be added to calls and data in the future.
Vodafone’s Mission: Connecting Everyone, Everywhere with Next-Gen Mobile Network
Della Valle says, “Vodafone’s job is to connect everyone, wherever they are, and we are bringing the best network to customers. We are connecting people who have never had access to mobile communications before. This will help close the digital divide and help people in all corners of Europe keep in touch with family and friends or work, as well as ensuring reliable rural connectivity in an emergency.”
credit: Vodafone Group
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