- AST SpaceMobile, in collaboration with Vodafone, AT&T, and Nokia, successfully demonstrates 5G voice and data connection from space to an unmodified smartphone.
- The achievement, using the BlueWalker 3 test satellite, paves the way for global 4G and 5G broadband connectivity from space, with commercial satellites set to launch in Q1 2024.
September 22, 2023, Midland, TX, AST SpaceMobile, Inc., a pioneer in space-based cellular broadband networks, announced a significant milestone in telecommunications: the world’s first 5G connection for voice and data between a standard, unaltered smartphone and a satellite in space.
This groundbreaking achievement was realized using the BlueWalker 3 test satellite, a collaboration involving industry giants Vodafone, AT&T, and Nokia. The test showcased the potential of space-based 4G and 5G broadband connectivity, aiming to bridge global coverage gaps.
Engineers from the company showcased this space-based 5G connectivity by orchestrating a call from Maui, Hawaii, to Madrid, Spain. This call utilized AT&T’s spectrum and was facilitated by AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 test satellite, which holds the distinction of being the largest commercial communications array in low Earth orbit. The 5G call, executed on September 8, 2023, was made from a Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone situated in a wireless dead zone in Hawaii.
Following AST SpaceMobile’s announcement in April about the successful space-based voice calls using standard smartphones, the company reported in June that the satellite achieved initial download speeds surpassing 10 Mbps. The recent tests, including 4G video calls and 5G cellular broadband connections, have further solidified the company’s position in the telecommunications frontier. Notably, the company achieved a download rate of approximately 14 Mbps, setting a new record for space-based cellular broadband data sessions.
Abel Avellan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AST SpaceMobile, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Making the first successful 5G cellular broadband connections from space directly to mobile phones is yet another significant advancement in telecommunications AST SpaceMobile has pioneered.”
Leaders from Vodafone, AT&T, and Nokia also lauded the achievement. Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group Chief Executive, emphasized the potential of space-based 5G in bridging the mobile usage gap across continents. Chris Sambar, Head of AT&T Network, and Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, both highlighted the collaborative nature of this innovation and its potential global impact.
AST SpaceMobile, with over 2,600 patent claims, is gearing up for the launch of five commercial BlueBird satellites in early 2024. The company’s state-of-the-art facilities in Midland, Texas, are at the forefront of this endeavor. With partnerships spanning more than 40 mobile network operators globally, AST SpaceMobile is poised to revolutionize global connectivity.
