AST SpaceMobile to bring space-based mobile broadband to remote regions of India

AST SpaceMobile, the company that is developing a system of low earth orbit satellites to enable satellite calls from regular smart phones, has partnered with  Vodafone Idea to expand mobile connectivity across India using space-based cellular broadband.

Vodafone Ideas is a joint venture between AST SpaceMobile to bring space-based mobile broadband to remote regions of India and Vodafone Group, providing mobile services across India

The collaboration aims to address connectivity gaps in remote and underserved regions by combining Vi’s terrestrial network with AST SpaceMobile’s satellite technology that links directly to standard mobile phones.

AST SpaceMobile is building what it claims is the first space-based cellular broadband network that connects directly to everyday smartphones—without any modifications or special apps.

The company recently demonstrated a milestone in space telecoms by making the world’s first voice and video calls from space using an unmodified handset per the UK Vodafone network (below).

India, has more than 1.1 billion mobile subscribers and increasing 4G and 5G penetration,

India, has more than 1.1 billion mobile subscribers and increasing 4G and 5G penetration,. But it still faces connectivity challenges in mountainous, forested, and rural areas. The Vi-AST SpaceMobile partnership seeks to complement terrestrial mobile coverage with satellite connectivity to deliver broadband access in hard-to-reach locations.

The collaboration supports India’s national “Digital India” ambitions by enabling mobile voice, video, internet and data services through a hybrid space-and-ground network. Under the agreement, AST SpaceMobile will design, build and manage the satellite constellation, while Vi will handle terrestrial integration, spectrum management and regulatory access.

“Vi has always been committed to leveraging technology to connect every Indian, and we see satellite communication as a natural extension of our network,” said Avneesh Khosla, Chief Marketing Officer at Vodafone Idea. “This initiative opens the door to truly seamless and resilient coverage across the country.”

Chris Ivory, Chief Commercial Officer of AST SpaceMobile, added: “India is the perfect market to demonstrate the potential of direct-to-device space-based cellular broadband. With Vi, we aim to transform connectivity for sectors like agriculture, disaster response, remote learning and IoT.”

The companies also plan to jointly develop commercial offerings for consumer, enterprise, and IoT segments.

The move places India at the forefront of space-enabled telecom innovation and underscores the growing global interest in hybrid satellite-terrestrial mobile ecosystems.