Vodafone records breakthrough with first-ever satellite video call on standard mobile phone

Vodafone has made the world’s first satellite video using a standard mobile phone and BlueBird satellites from AST SpaceMobile.

The call, made on 29 January in a remote area of Wales, was a demonstration to showcase the capabilities of the satellite network designed to offer 4G/5G mobile broadband from space.

It highlighted how this technology can connect underserved regions where traditional mobile infrastructure is absent.

Demonstrating the power of satellite networks

In the demonstration, Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle called an engineer in a remote area of Wales, traditionally without mobile coverage.

The BlueBird satellites directly communicated with the smartphone, sending the signal to Vodafone’s terrestrial network.

While the call’s quality was slightly low-res with some lag, it demonstrated the satellite’s capability to support mobile video calls in regions without cellular infrastructure.

The five BlueBird satellites can deliver broadband speeds up to 120 Mbps, supporting voice, data, and video communication via normal smartphones.

With this technology, users in remote locations will enjoy access to fast and reliable connectivity where it was previously unavailable.

This breakthrough could become a game-changer for remote communities and travelers who have previously relied on satellite phones for limited services.

AST SpaceMobile plans to extend this service to rural regions and national parks, offering connectivity that traditional towers cannot reach.

While SpaceX’s Starlink has made similar satellite video calls, Vodafone said that its achievement was the first to happen from an area with no cellular network coverage.

Unlike other networks that just support text messaging or emergency alerts, Vodafone’s system promises to deliver a full broadband experience once operational in Europe by late 2025.

Testing and plans for global coverage

Testing in the United States will start this spring with no specific launch date or pricing details yet. 

Once fully deployed, this satellite network will bring mobile broadband to millions of underserved users globally.