Vodafone has successfully made the world’s first space video call using normal 4G/5G smartphones and satellites that will allow multiple users in areas of no mobile coverage to make and receive video calls, access the Internet and use online messaging services. It is the only satellite technology of its kind built to offer a full mobile broadband experience and paves the way for universal digital connectivity and the closure of mobile coverage gaps. This was powered by AST SpaceMobile’s groundbreaking BlueBird satellites, the largest commercial phase arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit. This is a giant leap toward universal connectivity.

Astronaut Tim Peake and Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group Chief Executive, marked this significant milestone at Vodafone’s new space-to-land gateway, which receives and channels all the signals sent from a user’s smartphone via the BlueBird satellites of Vodafone’s partner, AST SpaceMobile. Vodafone engineer Rowan Chesmer put it to the test when he made the historic space-based video call to Margherita from a remote mountainous location in mid-Wales – where there has never been mobile broadband before. Rowan, who joined Vodafone’s graduate scheme in 2017, is now developing cutting-edge satellite technologies that will improve global connectivity.

Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, said: “This historic milestone marks another significant step forward in our partnership with Vodafone, a long-time investor in AST SpaceMobile and a key technology partner. Together, we have achieved several world firsts in space-based broadband connectivity, including the first-ever space-based voice call, the first-ever 4G download speed above 10 Mbps, and the first-ever 5G voice call. This latest achievement using our BlueBird satellites takes us one step closer to our mission to eliminate connectivity gaps and make cellular broadband accessible to all.”