Vodafone has chosen MWC 2023 to showcase its proposal for the future of mobile networks. On this occasion, the operator, together with its partner AST SpaceMobile, presented pioneer of new generation satellite communications in the world.
The idea is to use satellite communications to deliver broadband to every corner of the world, especially rural or uninhabited areas where spelling makes it difficult to deploy terrestrial networks.
Unlike other satellite offerings we’ve seen in recent months, Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile’s offering is particularly interesting and pioneering in the market: it will work on any current mobile terminal.
This is a fundamental change from other options such as Starlink or the emergency satellite that Apple introduced with the iPhone 14, which uses Globalstar technology, which requires its own connectivity system or a compatible terminal.
Vodafone and AST satellite technologies work on any mobile
The Vodafone offer is different and when it works, completely transparent to the end user. You won’t need to change your mobile phone or buy a new one as it will connect directly to standard 5G, 4G and 2G mobile phones. Another differentiating element is the fact that it will offer full functionality similar to what the company does through its terrestrial network: fully functional and operational broadband access.
Vodafone’s partner on this adventure is AST SpaceMobile, a satellite design and manufacturing company that is also a pioneer in providing satellite communications for standard mobile phones. It is responsible for the design and deployment of satellites. The first of them, called BlueWalker 3, was launched in November last year and it is with him that the first tests are being carried out.
The full plan is to launch a few more satellites in 2023 and continue into 2024 to build a complete network that provides uninterrupted coverage. BlueWalker 3 is in low orbit and makes one complete revolution around the Earth every 90 minutes. Unlike other satellites that offer mobile communications, BlueWalker 3 and technology AST SpaceMobile it’s quite special. This is a communications satellite of enormous size, about 64 m² and 1500 kg:
The size that the company believes is necessary to provide satellite communications as if it were terrestrial. In fact, the next generations are likely to be even bigger.
With the first satellite in orbit, Vodafone Spain plans to conduct satellite voice and data tests in the coming months.. The ultimate ideal is to offer voice calls, messaging, emergency services, broadband Internet connectivity, and Internet of Things (IoT) services. Everything is transparent, so that it is the mobile terminal that automatically switches between satellite and terrestrial communications, depending on the circumstances.
Vodafone will be able to provide coverage anywhere in Spain and beyond
If all goes well, this will mean that Vodafone has 4G and 5G coverage in Spain at 95%. In this way it will be possible serve broadband in rural or directly uninhabited areas where there is no terrestrial infrastructure. Also mobile communications in maritime corridors or the ability to deploy on-demand coverage in certain areas in case of disasters in which terrestrial infrastructure is damaged.
This is a revolutionary solution that can complement traditional flooring and is ideal for homes and businesses in the Spanish countryside. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has access to the services and benefits of the digital society, no matter where they live.,
Giulia Velasco, network director of Vodafone Spain.
Vodafone was the first to take this step. innovative technology, if we take into account that it allows the service to be offered on unmodified or special mobile phones for use with satellite communications.. In addition, the company also has the exclusive right to use this technology in its field of activity, which is an extremely important advantage in the satellite communications market, which has gained special interest in recent years.
It is logical that the company does not set an exact date when the end consumer will start using this technology. Its testing will begin in the coming months as AST SpaceMobile continues to deploy its satellites for full and uninterrupted coverage.
If all indications are that satellite communications will be the next step in the industry, then Vodafone’s technology, completely transparent to the user and compatible with unmodified terminals, will be an extremely important step, so that in a few years there will be areas where there will be no coverage left in the past.
Source: Hiper Textual
I’m Ben Stock, a highly experienced and passionate journalist with a career in the news industry spanning more than 10 years. I specialize in writing content for websites, including researching and interviewing sources to produce engaging articles. My current role is as an author at Gadget Onus, where I mainly cover the mobile section.
