Trial also delivers 14Mbps data speeds, but AST still faces some big hurdles before delivering a service
Satellite company AST SpaceMobile claims it achieved a 5G connection for voice and data between an unmodified smartphone and its BlueWalker 3 satellite in space.
The call – which took place from Hawaii using spectrum provided by AT&T to Madrid-based Vodafone engineer José Guevara – was made using an unmodified Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone and AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 test satellite.
The companies, which also included Nokia as a 5G technology partner, happily remembered to video the trial after recent criticism from competitor Lynk when AST SpaceMobile successfully completed the first 4G call from space to a mobile in June.
In a separate test, AST Space Mobile, supported by Vodafone, broke its previous space-based cellular broadband data session record by achieving a download rate of nearly 14Mbps.
Hedging bets
BlueWalker 3 is the largest commercial communications array deployed in low Earth orbit and AST Spacemobile has a lot of work ahead of it to fund its constellation given it needs around 90 BlueBird satellites for its planned 5G broadband service.
Last month the satellite company, which has Rakuten and Vodafone as strategic investors, secured funding for its first five commercial satellites slated to launch with SpaceX early next year after raising $115 million in debt.
The satco recently stated its initial service with five satellites would not bring in enough revenues to fund future satellites or turn a profit. All eyes will be focused on what strategic partner may emerge to help the satco ramp up operations and manage cash.
Existing strategic partner Vodafone has its engineers working to test the AST SpaceMobile service in Spain. The telco expects AST SpaceMobile’s terrestrial infrastructure in Spain to play a key role in establishing a future satellite network This includes a control centre and the management of customer traffic, which covers remote land-based areas within Europe and the Mediterranean Sea.
“Vodafone is striving to close the mobile usage gap for millions of people across Europe and Africa,” said Vodafone chief executive Margherita Della Valle. “By making the world’s first space-based 5G call to Europe, we have taken another important step in realizing that ambition.”
However, despite the enthusiasm for AST Vodafone has somewhat sensibly also signed a strategic partnership with Amazon’s Project Kuiper as a LEO partner – although the telco hinted this partnership will initially be used for remote mobile backhaul.
Partners happy
AT&T head of network Chris Sambar said: “These first-of-a-kind innovations would not be possible without ecosystem-wide collaboration. We’re all working together to achieve the shared vision of space-based connectivity for consumers, businesses and first responders all around the globe.”
AT&T entered into a long-term lease agreement with AST that will allow the satellite entity to use those spectrum assets for the private use of AT&T services.
“While we are of course proud that our AirScale portfolio is playing a key role in underpinning these networks, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture that space-based cellular broadband can provide crucial connectivity to underserved communities around the world,” said Nokia president of mobile networks Tommi Uitto.
“Since the launch of BlueWalker 3, we have achieved full compatibility with phones made by all major manufacturers and support for 2G, 4G LTE, and now 5G,” said AST SpaceMobile chairman and CEO Abel Avellan. “We are more confident than ever that space-based cellular broadband can help transform internet connectivity across the globe by filling in gaps and connecting the unconnected.”