The first BlueBird satellite, launched into orbit just months ago, successfully facilitated a video call between two standard smartphones on Earth.
The U.S.-based company AST conducted this test in collaboration with Vodafone, one of its European partners. Vodafone hailed it as the "first-ever mobile video call via satellite", releasing a video showcasing an engineer making a call from a remote, mountainous region in Wales—a location with no conventional cellular coverage.
How It Worked
The call was made using a regular consumer smartphone, which connected to one of AST’s five orbiting BlueBird satellites—designed to function as cell towers in space.
The satellite then relayed the call data to Vodafone Group CEO Margherita Della Valle’s phone. Although the video quality was slightly grainy, the satellite successfully transmitted real-time data, even from a cellular dead zone.
AST vs. SpaceX – The Satellite-to-Phone Race
Vodafone and AST have not disclosed exact internet speeds over satellite. However, this milestone highlights the growing competition between AST and SpaceX, which is developing its satellite-to-phone technology via Starlink’s cellular service.
- SpaceX has already received FCC approval for commercial satellite-to-phone operations and has over 400 satellites in orbit. However, its cellular Starlink rollout remains slow, starting with T-Mobile’s beta program for SMS messaging.
- AST, on the other hand, still needs to launch dozens more satellites before it can offer continuous coverage. It also requires full FCC approval to operate commercially in the U.S.. Currently, AST has temporary licenses for testing with AT&T in the U.S. and Vodafone in Turkey and the UK.
Vodafone’s Plans for Commercial Launch
For AST, this test is a significant success—proving that BlueBird satellites can already support video calls. The company had previously demonstrated this capability with its BlueWalker 3 prototype in 2023.
Meanwhile, SpaceX’s cellular Starlink service is still limited to SMS texting, but it aims to support voice and video calls once it secures regulatory approvals. SpaceX has previously tested its technology on iPhones, Samsung devices, and Pixel phones, achieving download speeds of up to 17 Mbps.
As for AST’s U.S. rollout, there is no confirmed launch date for its beta tests with AT&T and Verizon. However, Vodafone is optimistic, stating:
"Following further tests this spring, Vodafone aims to commercially launch direct smartphone broadband satellite services across Europe by late 2024 and into 2026—eliminating remaining coverage gaps."
Additionally, AST claims that its BlueBird satellites are designed to support data transmission speeds of up to 120 Mbps.
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