Vodafone has achieved a major milestone by making the world’s first video call via satellite using a standard smartphone. The call was placed from a remote location in the Welsh mountains by engineer Rowan Chesmer and received by Vodafone’s CEO, Margherita Della Valle.
The European mobile operator is using AST SpaceMobile’s five BlueBird satellites to provide mobile connectivity, aiming for a full mobile experience – including voice, text and video transmission—without the need for special devices. Vodafone plans to roll out this service across Europe later this year and in 2026.
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Other telecom giants, including AT&T, Verizon, Google and T-Mobile, are also working on satellite-based connectivity solutions. Apple, Google and Samsung have already introduced satellite messaging services, while T-Mobile and SpaceX are testing Starlink satellites for future voice and data services.
British astronaut Tim Peake, who attended Vodafone’s space-to-land gateway launch in Newbury, hailed the technology as an “incredible breakthrough” in mobile coverage. He highlighted the importance of staying connected in remote environments, drawing from his experience of spending 186 days in space.
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