According to a statement, the business – known as SatCo - will “seek to provide 100 per cent geographic coverage in every part of Europe, to give consumers and businesses access to secure space-based cellular broadband connectivity via their MNO.”
Discussing the deal, a spokesperson for the companies said: “The new venture will exclusively distribute AST SpaceMobile’s satellite services to European MNOs under a single turnkey arrangement. This will be underpinned by a full network management and network operations centre capability, based in Europe, drawing on Vodafone’s advanced engineering expertise.
“SatCo will build and run a network of ground stations to provide backhaul services from these MNOs across Europe to the satellite network in low Earth orbit. SatCo’s solution will fully support European digital sovereignty.”
Vodafone Group CEO, Margherita Della Valle, said: “Vodafone’s space-based mobile broadband will mean our customers can stay connected, wherever they are.
“Our new satellite company will be able to offer this pioneering technology to other European mobile operators through a turnkey service that combines Vodafone’s leading network and engineering with AST SpaceMobile’s ‘antennas in the sky’.”
Founder, chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, Abel Avellan, said: “Together with Vodafone, we are poised to accelerate our commercialisation plans across all of Europe, making true mobile broadband from space a reality.”
Earlier this year, Vodafone made what it claims was the world’s first space-based mobile video call from an area with no mobile coverage. This was achieved leveraging recently launched BlueBird satellites.
