T-Mobile U.S. and SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, are currently testing Starlink satellites to offer text messaging services.
Vodafone announced it has achieved the world’s first video call via satellite using a standard smartphone from a remote area and intends to introduce this technology to its users across Europe by late this year and in 2026.
The call was received by Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone, from company engineer Rowan Chesmer, who was stationed in the Welsh mountains, where traditional network coverage was unavailable. “We utilized the only satellite service capable of delivering a complete mobile experience using a regular device, enabling voice, text, and video data transmission, which is why we were able to complete a full video call,” Della Valle explained in a Wednesday interview.
Vodafone is leveraging AST SpaceMobile’s five BlueBird satellites positioned in low-Earth orbit, allowing for transmission speeds of up to 120 megabits per second for standard smartphones. The British telecommunications firm has invested in AST SpaceMobile, alongside other notable companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Google.
Mobile networks and smartphone manufacturers are competing to implement satellite services aimed at bridging gaps in network coverage. Since the iPhone 14, Apple devices could connect to satellites for emergency communications, messaging, and location sharing through low-bandwidth connections. Competitors such as Google and Samsung are also providing similar functionalities.
T-Mobile U.S. and SpaceX are actively testing Starlink satellites for text services, with plans to include voice and data capabilities in the future. According to T-Mobile, Apple’s latest iPhones and several Android devices are qualified to participate.
Della Valle was accompanied by British astronaut Tim Peake during the launch of the company’s space-to-land gateway at its Newbury headquarters, located west of London. This gateway receives signals sent from a user’s smartphone via the satellite and integrates them into Vodafone’s core network.
Peake, who became the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station and conduct a spacewalk in 2015, expressed that providing mobile connectivity through space technology is an “incredible breakthrough.” “Having lived in a rather remote and isolated environment for six months on the space station, maintaining a connection with loved ones is extremely valuable,” he stated in an interview with Reuters. Peake, who spent 186 days in orbit, remarked that he would eagerly accept any opportunities to participate in future missions.
