Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile have further progressed their joint venture to bring continent-wide satellite 5G connectivity to standard smartphones by next year.
The two companies have anmounced their European satellite joint venture, SatCo, which will be headquartered in Luxembourg anddeliver direct-to-device mobile broadband connectivity via satellite to mobile network operators across Europe, supporting both commercial and government use cases.
The service is expected to go live commercially in 2026, with expressions of interest already received from mobile network operators in 21 EU member states and additional European markets.
SatCo will be the exclusive European distributor of AST SpaceMobile’s satellite broadband network, said to e the first and only space-based cellular broadband system designed to connect standard, unmodified smartphones.
SatCo aims to provide mobile broadband infrastructure that complements terrestrial 4G and 5G networks. It will enable coverage in remote areas such as mountains, rural locations, and offshore regions where traditional mobile service is often unavailable.
Vodafone Group CEO Margherita Della Valle said: “This is an important initiative for Europe. Our service will ensure that European citizens, businesses, and governments enjoy uninterrupted, ubiquitous mobile broadband connectivity across the whole continent. Europe can take the lead in new direct-to-mobile broadband technology.”
The decision to base SatCo in Luxembourg was driven by the country’s strong digital infrastructure and strategic location. The Luxembourg government has welcomed the move as a boost to the national space ecosystem and a step towards achieving the EU’s Digital Decade 2030 targets.
Lex Delles, Luxembourg’s Minister of the Economy, said the decision reinforced the country’s role as “a hub to deploy innovative solutions serving the whole EU single market and its citizens,” while Elisabeth Margue, Minister Delegate for Media and Connectivity, highlighted SatCo’s potential to enhance “ubiquitous coverage of mobile broadband connectivity” across the region.
AST SpaceMobile CEO Abel Avellan said the venture strengthens Europe’s digital independence: “Together, we are building secure, resilient cellular broadband infrastructure to serve Europe’s connectivity needs—anywhere, anytime.”
Trials have shown consistent 4G and 5G connections with download speeds exceeding 20 Mbps on a 5 MHz channel. A new generation of satellites, scheduled for launch in 2025, is expected to deliver peak data rates of 120 Mbps.
SatCo will integratenetwork earth stations with mobile operators’ terrestrial infrastructure, providing seamless switching between space-based and ground-based mobile signals. The model offers operators a turnkey wholesale service, giving them the tools to extend their coverage footprint without building out more ground-based infrastructure.
The joint venture was first announced in March 2025 and represents a key step in Europe’s ambition to lead in direct-to-device satellite connectivity while meeting growing demand for robust and secure digital infrastructure.
