The partners say they have expressions of interest in their proposed LEO-based services from mobile operators across 21 European countries
Vodafone Group and AST SpaceMobile announced their new joint venture satellite company, SatCo, will be headquartered in Luxembourg, for what they describe as “a European sovereign integrated satellite service”. SatCo was announced at MWC in 2025. The JV will last until at least 2034.
AST SpaceMobile claims it is building “the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications”. The first commercial services are expected in 2026.
SatCo will deploy a small network of earth stations that integrate with operators’ terrestrial 4G and 5G networks, providing backhaul links and extending coverage across Europe from the AST SpaceMobile satellite constellation in low Earth orbit (LEO). Phone users will be able to switch automatically between space and land-based networks.
AST SpaceMobile’s headquarters are in Midland, Texas, US. Vodafone’s headquarters are in Newbury, UK, but it has had a presence in Luxembourg since 1999. Its global roaming centre and Tomorrow Street innovation hub are sited there, and the Vodafone Procurement Company, which manage the group’s global procurement needs, has been based in Luxembourg since its inception in 2008.
The Blues: current and future platforms
AST has carried out trials of the new platform, including via the prototype 1.5-ton BlueWalker 3 (BW3), which orbits the Earth at a low altitude of just over 500km. It has an immense, 64.4 square metre phased array antenna, designed for direct-to-device services. BW3 was announced in June 2022 and launched that year in August with Vodafone as a strategic partner and investor.
The picture shows the BW3 satellite in LEO. The company has achieved download speeds of more than 20Mbps to unmodified phones on a 5MHz channel which can support roaming for text and voice but limited data services. AST is to launch a total of 100 similar satellites, BlueBirds: future models will be bigger with more capabilities.
Close contact with interested parties
Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile say they are in “close contact” with the Luxembourg Government, key European policymakers, EU Member States, and industry stakeholders. Their grand plan is “to advance national and European digital sovereignty by promoting a cohesive space strategy.
“SatCo will forge private and public sector partnerships that will position Europe as a leader in the provision of direct-to-mobile space-based broadband connectivity. This will provide the region with a secure and resilient digital communications infrastructure for use in any location, including mountains or at sea, at any time.”
Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone, said, “This is an important initiative for Europe. Our service will ensure all European citizens, businesses, and governments enjoy uninterrupted, ubiquitous mobile broadband connectivity across the whole continent. Europe can take the lead in new direct-to-device mobile broadband technology.”
Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, added, “With SatCo now based in Luxembourg, Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile are strengthening Europe’s position in direct-to-mobile satellite services and advancing digital independence.
“This joint venture supports European digital sovereignty by creating a unified platform to deliver satellite connectivity across the continent. Together, we are building secure, resilient cellular broadband infrastructure to serve Europe’s connectivity needs – anywhere, anytime.”
