Vodafone satellite collaboration promises "European digital sovereignty"

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile have signed an agreement to create a jointly-owned satellite service serving European network operators.

Photo credit: Adobe Stock/Andrei Armiagov

According to a statement, the business – known as SatCo - will “seek to provide 100 per cent geographic coverage in every part of Europe, to give consumers and businesses access to secure space-based cellular broadband connectivity via their MNO.”

Discussing the deal, a spokesperson for the companies said: “The new venture will exclusively distribute AST SpaceMobile’s satellite services to European MNOs under a single turnkey arrangement. This will be underpinned by a full network management and network operations centre capability, based in Europe, drawing on Vodafone’s advanced engineering expertise.

“SatCo will build and run a network of ground stations to provide backhaul services from these MNOs across Europe to the satellite network in low Earth orbit. SatCo’s solution will fully support European digital sovereignty.”