Vi, AST SpaceMobile Ink Deal for Satcom Services

Vi, AST will also collaborate to develop commercial offerings for consumer, IoT enterprise sectors

- Press Trust of India

NEW DELHI: Debt-ridden telecom operator Vodafone Idea on Wednesday announced a partnership with Elon Musk-owned SpaceX rival satcom firm AST SpaceMobile for delivering satellite service on smartphones directly.

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, Vodafone Idea said in a statement.

"Vi (Vodafone Idea) and AST SpaceMobile Inc. announced a strategic partnership to expand mobile connectivity across India's unconnected regions. AST SpaceMobile made history by placing the first-ever voice and video call from space using a standard mobile phone, a milestone that demonstrates the real-world viability of its advanced technology," the statement said.

Vodafone Idea's promoter firm Vodafone Plc has already signed a pact with AST SpaceMobile.