Vodafone Idea connects with AST to foray into satcom services

Vodafone Idea (Vi) has become India’s third telecom operator after Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel to join the fray for starting broadband-from-space services, tying up with US-based AST SpaceMobile for offering direct-to-device satellite broadband connectivity in the country.

Vi said, in a joint statement on Wednesday, that the space-based cellular broadband ecosystem will be designed to expand its telecom services of terrestrial connectivity, providing voice, video, data streaming and internet access.

“It will encompass the design, implementation and launch of this system wherein AST SpaceMobile will develop, manufacture and manage the satellite constellation and Vi will oversee terrestrial network integration, operating spectrum and market access,” it said.


The telco will be pitched against not just its two bigger domestic rivals but also Elon Musk-owned Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper in India's nascent satcom market with high growth potential.

Nasdaq-listed AST SpaceMobile is building a constellation of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites that connect directly with standard mobile phones, without the need for specialised equipment. UK-based Vodafone Group, a co-parent of Vi, is an investor in AST SpaceMobile, and is collaborating to set up this ‘first space-based mobile network’.

The first five commercial satellites have been placed in orbit successfully last September, with plans to have over 50 satellites in the coming years.

“As satellite-based mobile access becomes a reality in India, we are looking forward to ushering in a new era of seamless and resilient connectivity,” said Avneesh Khosla, chief marketing officer, Vi.

Through the partnership, Vi and AST SpaceMobile will collaborate to develop commercial offerings for diverse sectors, including consumer, enterprise and IoT.

“We are not just expanding coverage; we are breaking down barriers to connectivity, enabling everyday smartphones to access 4G and 5G directly from space,” Chris Ivory, chief commercial officer, AST SpaceMobile, added.

Ivory said through the partnership, new possibilities can be unlocked for emergency response, disaster management, agriculture, remote learning, and other applications.

As per rules, any company offering satellite services in India needs to establish its gateways locally and route all its data through these gateways. Vi will now need to secure a satcom permit for starting satcom services. The companies have not yet shared when they plan to apply for securing the regulatory approvals.

Unlike other satcom companies like Starlink and Amazon Kuiper, which need a terminal to access broadband, AST SpaceMobile partners with mobile operators to offer connectivity on the devices of users directly, without any need for additional equipment, say experts. Starlink, though, has also started sending the latest satellites in orbit with direct-to-device capabilities.

Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have already tied up with Starlink to offer the US company’s broadband-from-space services. It was, however, not specified if direct-to-device service was also part of the partnership between the telcos and Starlink.

This January, Vodafone made the first-ever video call over satellite from an area without any terrestrial mobile coverage utilising a LEO satellite of AST SpaceMobile. The partnership with Vi would offer similar capabilities to users in India.