AST SpaceMobile has announced that completed the first space-based voice call directly to an unmodified smartphone using the BlueWalker 3 (BW3) satellite, in partnership with AT&T.
In accordance with Slash Gearthe Low Earth Orbit Satellite is the largest commercial communications satellite currently being deployed.
The initial test call was made using a smartphone Samsung Galaxy S22 unmodified. The call originated from Midland, Texas, to a Rakuten line in Japan., and AT&T volunteered its cellular airwaves for the cause. Vodafone and Rakuten were also instrumental in the achievement.
Abel Avellan, President and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, said: “Achieving what many once considered impossible, we have reached the most important milestone to date in our quest to deliver global cellular broadband from space”.
“While we take a moment to celebrate this tremendous achievement, we remain focused on the way forward and critical next steps that move us closer to our goal of transforming the way the world connects.”.
5G space
According to AST, its goal is to enable reliable communications in underdeveloped areas that have trouble building terrestrial infrastructure for broadband cellular networks.
In addition to calls and messages, AST finally aims to deliver data at speeds up to 5G, all transmitted from space. About 50% of the world’s population does not have adequate access to the newer standards as they are. Much of that figure represents people scattered across third-world countries, where funding, manpower, and adjacent prerequisite infrastructure can be hard to come by.
Such developments would close significant gaps, potentially at much less substantial implementation and maintenance costs compared to traditional networks. It is unclear how long it will take for AST to make this dream come true.
