- By Prateek Levi
- Thu, 19 Jun 2025 02:40 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Vi Satellite Phone Services: has some good news for its users: the company has formed a partnership with a satellite communication firm, AST SpaceMobile, which is a competitor of Elon Musk's SpaceX. With this new collaboration, Vi intends to give its users satellite services directly to their smartphones. Vodafone Idea has partnered with AST SpaceMobile to introduce a satellite-based mobile broadband network that works directly with standard mobile phones—no special hardware or software needed. The aim? To bring mobile connectivity to areas in India that remain off the telecom grid.
In a statement, Vodafone Idea (Vi) said this strategic alliance is focused on expanding mobile access in remote parts of the country. The company also pointed out that AST SpaceMobile has already demonstrated the real-world power of its technology by making history: the first voice and video call from space to an everyday mobile device.
No Launch Date Yet, But Promises Ahead
While there's no official word on when Vi's satellite-powered services will go live, a spokesperson assured that “important updates” will be shared “when the time is appropriate”. Vodafone Plc—the promoter of Vi—had earlier signed a global agreement with AST SpaceMobile, paving the way for this collaboration.
Breaking Ground: Space-Based Mobile Calls
AST SpaceMobile has been making rapid progress. In June 2023, it claimed to have achieved over 10 Mbps in 4G download speeds from space to a standard phone. Then in September, it followed that up with what it called the first-ever 5G voice call made from space. The company’s momentum continued into 2024, drawing fresh investment from tech giants like Google, AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone, while also securing new contracts with the U.S. government.
Seamless Integration with Vi’s Network
The Vi-AST SpaceMobile partnership is designed to merge AST’s satellite tech with Vi’s nationwide telecom infrastructure. The end goal is seamless connectivity for users, covering voice, video, data streaming, and internet access—without requiring any special mobile devices.
An executive from AST SpaceMobile said India is a perfect market to showcase how their technology can work alongside existing networks, with the goal of removing connectivity barriers and allowing smartphones to access 4G and 5G directly from space.The two companies also plan to co-develop commercial satellite-based solutions tailored for consumers, enterprises, and the growing Internet of Things (IoT) sector.
A Race in the Sky
AST SpaceMobile isn’t alone in this space race. SpaceX is also working on delivering satellite internet services straight to smartphones through its Starlink division. In India, it has already partnered with local telecom giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.
Earlier this month, Starlink secured a licence from India’s telecom department to operate within the country. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has recommended that satellite spectrum be allocated through non-auction methods—a move traditional telecom operators have opposed. The government has since approved spectrum allocation via administrative routes, though only for point-to-point communication and subject to a fixed fee.
As India inches closer to a satellite-powered connectivity revolution, Vodafone Idea’s collaboration with AST SpaceMobile is poised to redefine what “mobile coverage” means—quite literally, taking it out of this world.
