Berlin: British telecoms giant Vodafone and US group AST SpaceMobile have announced their decision to base satellite operations in Germany. This initiative aims to enhance high-speed connectivity to remote areas across Europe.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the joint venture, named SatCo, was first announced in March. The collaboration intends to “further strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty,” as noted in a statement by the companies. Currently, the high-speed satellite connectivity market sees significant competition from Elon Musk’s Starlink internet system.
The technology provided by Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile will enable mobile services to be delivered directly from satellites to network providers. This development is expected to benefit European citizens, businesses, and public sector organizations. The venture’s objective is to ensure the availability of mobile broadband in underserved areas and to support emergency services and disaster relief agencies.
A commercial launch of the service is planned for 2026, marking a significant step forward in providing comprehensive satellite connectivity across Europe.