2 days ago · Vodafone became a lead investor in AST SpaceMobile in 2019 and pioneered successful trials using its test satellite, including completing the world’s first space-based 5G voice call. Now five AST SpaceMobile satellites, called Bluebird 1 – 5, allow Vodafone to test mobile broadband connectivity directly to existing smartphones at peak data ...

Feb 16, 2022 · AST SpaceMobile plans to be the first space-based network to connect standard mobile phones at broadband speeds. Devices would switch between space and ground-based networks automatically, effectively eliminating coverage gaps and ensuring customers can stay connected on the move.

1 day ago · A telescopic view of AST SpaceMobile's Midland-made BlueWalker 3 satellite fully deployed and in orbit. The satellite was used as Vodafone UK made the world's first space mobile video call using ...

1 day ago · AST SpaceMobile's five BlueBird satellites have onboard communications arrays that give off-the-shelf smartphones the same voice, data and video speeds as a broadband tower, up to 120 megabits per ...

3 days ago · The AST SpaceMobile satellite used by Vodafone for Margherita’s video call is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite. It sits at an approximate height of 500km (roughly 300mi) above the surface of the planet. This shorter distance makes it much more practical to provide mobile data connections with acceptable speeds.

2 days ago · Vodafone partnered with AST SpaceMobile for the satellite service, using the five low Earth orbit BlueBird satellites the company has launched so far. The signal is routed through a space-to-land ...

2 days ago · The call was made using AST SpaceMobile’s satellites and Della Valle was joined by UK astronaut Tim Peake (pictured, right) as the pair unveiled Vodafone’s new space-to-land gateway. Vodafone’s gateway receives and channels all signals sent from a user’s smartphone to AST SpaceMobile’s Bluebird satellites, connecting “seamlessly ...

2 days ago · AST SpaceMobile Satellites Successfully Power Video Call With Vodafone. The BlueBird satellites relayed a video call from a Vodafone engineer positioned in a remote mountain region of the UK using ...

Sep 19, 2023 · In a world first, Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile have successfully completed a space-based 5G voice call. The call, which took place from Hawaii to José Guevara, a Vodafone engineer in Spain, was made using an unmodified Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone and AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 test satellite.

Dec 9, 2024 · Vodafone has placed an order for its first Block 1 BlueBird gateway, marking a milestone in the deployment of AST SpaceMobile's global network infrastructure.