Space 5G should reach regular smartphones in rural area notspots Vodafone claims it has made the first mobile video call using a satellite connection and standard 4G/5G smartphones, and said it aims to offer a commercial direct-to-cell satellite service in Europe starting later this year.

Vodafone has made what it calls “the world’s first” satellite video call using a standard smartphone, in a test of a system it says will provide mobile broadband service to 4G and 5G phones without dedicated satellite hardware. The service, using satellites from SpaceX rival AST SpaceMobile, is expected to launch in Europe before the end of 2025.

In a bid to bring coverage to connectivity blackspots, Vodafone has teamed up with AST SpaceMobile to make calls using satellites.

Vodafone has pledged to eliminate rural signal “not-spots” with the launch of a new satellite mobile service...

Vodafone wants to offer satellite internet in Europe from 2025. To kick things off, the Vodafone boss made the first video call by smartphone via satellite.

The BlueBird satellites relayed a video call from a Vodafone engineer positioned in a remote mountain region of the UK using an unmodified consumer smartphone.

Vodafone has demonstrated the capabilities of a new satellite network by making what it calls the "world's first" satellite video call, albeit with some caveats. The company used partner AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites specifically designed to transmit 4G/5G mobile broadband signals from space.

Vodafone said it had made the world's first video call via satellite using a standard smartphone from a remote location, and it plans to roll out the technology for its users across Europe later this year and in 2026.