Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile will build a new EU-focused direct-to-mobile satellite constellation anchored by a Satellite Operations Centre in Germany, positioning the SatCo joint venture as a sovereign space infrastructure pillar for Europe. The centre, to be located near Munich or Hannover, will map and allocate satellite connectivity for mobile network operators (MNOs) across 21 interested EU and neighbouring markets starting from a planned commercial launch in 2026. SatCo aims to extend 4G/5G coverage to underserved areas, while also integrating with terrestrial networks via a network of gateway stations for seamless handover between space-based and ground coverage.
The planned EU constellation will incorporate a “command switch” that lets European authorities manage telemetry, tracking and control (TTC) and update encryption keys for both S-band smartphone links and Q/V-band feeder links, aligning with emerging European sovereignty and security goals. The platform is also designed to support public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) services, including use of the 698–703/753–758 MHz and 733–736/788–791 MHz bands, and to complement the EU Critical Communication System (EUCCS) vision by boosting resilience during emergencies. AST SpaceMobile has filed mid-band satellite registrations at the ITU through Germany to manage interference and harmonise service integration with existing mobile networks.
Beyond consumer coverage, SatCo is positioned as a candidate for the EU 2 GHz Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum, which would allow existing EU operators to deliver a pan-European, sovereign direct-to-device service using their own national spectrum alongside common MSS resources. The move builds on AST SpaceMobile’s growing direct-to-device track record with Vodafone, including the world’s first space-based video call to an unmodified smartphone in Europe, the first space-based 4G and 5G calls using unmodified phones, and download speeds above 20 Mbps over a 5 MHz channel. With its next-generation Block 2 BlueBird satellites and vertically integrated manufacturing base in Midland, Texas, AST SpaceMobile is positioning SatCo as Europe’s flagship D2D implementation on top of a broader global operator partnership strategy.
• Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile select Germany for SatCo’s main Satellite Operations Centre serving EU and neighbouring markets, with final site choice between the Munich and Hannover regions.
• SatCo targets commercial launch from 2026, with MNOs in 21 EU member states and other European countries already expressing interest in the service.
• Planned constellation includes a “command switch” enabling European oversight of TTC and service encryption keys for S-band user links and Q/V-band feeder links.
• Constellation to support PPDR operations and align with the EU Critical Communication System (EUCCS) vision, including potential use of PPDR-suitable sub-1 GHz bands.
• SatCo is a candidate for EU 2 GHz MSS spectrum, enabling pan-European sovereign mobile broadband directly to standard smartphones via existing MNOs.
• AST SpaceMobile files new ITU mid-band satellite registrations through Germany to coordinate spectrum and mitigate interference.
• Operations Centre will host one of SatCo’s European gateways to provide secure backhaul between the satellite constellation and terrestrial 4G/5G networks.
• AST SpaceMobile cites agreements with over 50 MNOs covering nearly 3 billion subscribers and reports 95% vertically integrated manufacturing and nearly 500,000 square feet (≈46,500 m²) of facilities in Midland, Texas.
Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone, said: “SatCo delivers a sovereign satellite solution to the whole of Europe. It will give European operators access to secure and resilient satellite communications, complementing existing terrestrial telecommunications networks. By establishing a satellite constellation in the EU and our principal command centre in Germany, we are ensuring the next frontier of communications infrastructure is firmly embedded in Europe.”
Analysis
AST SpaceMobile backgrounder
AST SpaceMobile, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Midland, Texas, is building a low Earth orbit (LEO) direct-to-device network designed to connect standard, unmodified smartphones using existing MNO spectrum. The company’s test satellite, BlueWalker 3, demonstrated two-way voice, broadband data and video calls directly from space to everyday handsets, including 4G and 5G connectivity and data rates above 20 Mbps on a 5 MHz channel. AST operates with a vertically integrated model—covering satellite design, manufacturing and integration—across almost 500,000 square feet (≈46,500 m²) of facilities in Midland, and is now ramping production of its Block 2 BlueBird satellites, each with up to 2,400 square feet (≈223 m²) of array area to deliver up to ten times the bandwidth of current spacecraft and peak user data rates up to 120 Mbps. The company reports more than 3,700 patent and patent-pending claims and has attracted strategic investment from AT&T, Verizon, Google and Vodafone.
AST’s go-to-market strategy pairs this infrastructure with MNOs rather than operating as a stand-alone retail service, with over 50 mobile network operator agreements and understandings now covering nearly 3 billion subscribers globally. It is moving from non-binding memoranda to definitive commercial contracts and long-term revenue commitments, including multi-year deals with AT&T, Verizon and stc group. The EU-focused SatCo joint venture with Vodafone adds a sovereignty-led regional constellation to AST’s global footprint and sits alongside partnerships in North America, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, creating a distributed architecture where BlueBird satellites reuse local MNO spectrum, backhaul into terrestrial 4G/5G cores, and extend coverage to “dead zones” without requiring changes to user devices.
Publicly announced AST SpaceMobile carrier partnerships
| Region | Operator / Partner | Relationship Type | Scope / Notes | Key Announcement Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe / Africa | Vodafone Group | Lead strategic partner, investor, SatCo JV | Mutual exclusivity across 24 countries; joint testing of 4G/5G direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity; SatCo EU constellation and German Satellite Operations Centre. | 2022–2025 |
| United States | AT&T | Definitive commercial agreement | Space-based broadband network direct to everyday phones; agreement runs to 2030 and follows earlier MoU and network trials. | 2018 (MoU), 2024 (commercial) |
| United States | Verizon | Strategic alliance and commercial agreement | Uses Verizon 850 MHz spectrum to extend coverage in underserved U.S. areas; builds on 2024 strategic commitment and funding support. | 2024–2025 |
| Saudi Arabia / MENA | stc group | 10-year commercial agreement | Long-term revenue commitment to roll out space-based cellular broadband in Saudi Arabia and selected Middle East and African markets. | 2025 |
| India | Vodafone Idea (Vi) | Partnership | Direct-to-device satellite broadband to augment Vi’s terrestrial network and extend coverage across India. | 2025 |
| Canada | Bell Canada | Strategic partner | Investment and partnership since 2021; tests of space-based VoLTE, broadband data, and video with goal to launch commercial service in 2026. | 2021–2025 |
| Japan | Rakuten Mobile | Strategic partner and shareholder | Early investor and collaborator in D2D trials; continuing strategic partnership within Rakuten Group. | 2021–2024 |
| Latin America | Telefónica / Hispam | Partnership and trials | Collaboration to extend broadband services across Latin America using LEO D2D satellites. | 2022–2023 |
| Africa (multi-country) | MTN Group | Partnership and trials | Exploring D2D satellite connectivity for rural coverage and network resilience initiatives. | 2023 |
| Middle East / North Africa | Etisalat (e&) | Partnership / MoU | Part of AST’s early MNO partners to extend coverage in the Middle East and North Africa. | 2022+ |
| Indonesia | Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison | Partnership / MoU | D2D satellite coverage to augment national mobile network across Indonesia and nearby regions. | 2022+ |
| Philippines | Smart Communications / Globe Telecom | Partnerships / MoUs | Planned integration with AST network to expand broadband coverage across the Philippines. | 2022+ |
| Latin America | Millicom (Tigo) | Partnership / MoU | To enable broadband connectivity across Millicom’s Tigo markets via direct-to-device satellite access. | 2022+ |
| Australia | Telstra | Partnership / MoU | Targeting rural and remote coverage using AST’s D2D satellite network. | 2022+ |
| Africa | Africell | Partnership / MoU | Extending broadband connectivity to underserved regions in Africa. | 2022+ |
| Caribbean / Latin America | Liberty Latin America | Partnership / MoU | LEO-based coverage extensions for Caribbean and Latin American markets. | 2022+ |
Across these partnerships, AST SpaceMobile is emerging as one of the main counterweights to SpaceX’s Starlink/T-Mobile and other satellite-to-cell efforts, with a business model anchored in MNO wholesale relationships, shared spectrum use and integration into existing 4G/5G cores rather than bypassing operators. The SatCo project with Vodafone adds a sovereignty-driven, EU-anchored constellation to this portfolio, giving European regulators and operators a direct stake in D2D infrastructure at a time when spectrum access, critical communications and secure TTC control are becoming strategic policy issues.
