- Vodafone has just made a major benchmark for satellite video calls
- He demo a “space video call” using a standard smartphone
- The service will take place later this year, although there is no price yet
Vodafone has announced that he has taken a new step in the race to end the frustration of cellular “dead zones” – with what he calls the “first spatial video call to the world” using a standard mobile phone from of an “non-coverage area”.
These qualifications are important because Starlink and T-Mobile have demonstrated a video call made via X (formerly Twitter) using unlatured phones last year. Vodafone’s complaint is therefore specific to setting up video calls from areas like the distant part of Wales where its demo took place.
However, it is certainly an important moment and a big step on the path of Vodafone towards the addition of satellite connectivity to its network by the end of this year in the United Kingdom and through Europe “more late in 2025 and 2026. “
Rather than replacing existing networks, direct satellite connectivity to mobile aims to be a useful extension that could eliminate “stains” (or dead areas) in rural areas and, according to Vodafone, “large stretches of the surrounding sea “.
Vodafone says that his satellite experience “reflects the experience of existing 4G and 5G mobile networks”, although the demonstration telephone call (which you can watch in the video below) has certainly shown proof of shift and sequences low resolution. We may have to wait for the full deployment to have a better idea of quality.
The service is provided by the BlueBird satellites of the partner of Vodafone (and SpaceX Rival) AST Spacemobile. The system is based on five satellites and Vodafone calls it “the first and the only large mobile strip network in space” which works directly with standard smartphones.
Rival systems, such as T-Mobile and Starlink, are currently limited to text messages, although video calls and mobile data are on the roadmap. With AT&T and Verizon also working with AST Spacemobile to provide similar service to the United States, the satellite call seems ready to trigger around the world in 2025.
How much will it cost?
To watch
The great unknown of Vodafone satellite connectivity and rival systems is the amount they will cost. Vodafone has not yet commented on prices, only declaring that it will start to deploy the service “following tests from other tests this spring” (therefore between March and June).
The need for satellite coverage, especially video calls, depends considerably on where you live. In the United Kingdom, OFCOM estimated that 9% of the country “lacks 4G coverage of good quality of any operator”. But those who live in urban areas will also be familiar with the “dead zones” of the telephone network caused by interruptions between cell towers.
Apple iPhones and now Android phones like the Google Pixel 9 series have received free SOS satellite features, which can be potential rescuers. IOS 18 also introduced the possibility of sending SMS to anyone via a satellite connection, as well as the possibility of obtaining road assistance.
These services may finally need a subscription, but Apple has not yet started to load. Thus, the question for mobile networks like Vodafone is the number of people who will need a large complete mobile band via satellite compared to emergency features which are currently available for free from Apple.
However, we are not complaining of obtaining more connectivity options, and the competition will, hopefully, the prices of long-term satellite services.
