Vodafone, AST SpaceMobile and University of Málaga launch new space and land mobile broadband research and validation hub for Europe

Vodafone today announced it will open Europe’s first research hub dedicated to developing integrated low earth orbit space-based and land mobile broadband services that allow customers to switch seamlessly between satellite and 4G/5G networks using their existing smartphones.

The hub builds on Vodafone’s historic first space mobile video call using such a service on 27 January 2025 and supports the company’s aim to provide ubiquitous mobile coverage for its 340 million customers in 15 countries and its network partners in 45 more markets. Vodafone is spearheading the introduction of commercial direct-to-smartphone mobile broadband satellite connectivity across Europe later in 2025 and 2026.

Located at Vodafone’s European innovation centre in Málaga, Spain, the hub, which will open by the summer, is supported by an initial grant from the Spanish Space Agency. AST SpaceMobile and the University of Málaga (UMA) are Vodafone’s lead partners on the project with other third-party technology companies and developers invited to join, fostering a new European ecosystem of combined satellite and earth connectivity solutions.

Alberto Ripepi, Vodafone Group Chief Network Officer, said: “As society becomes more digital, the need to close coverage gaps increases. Vodafone, together with AST SpaceMobile and the University of Málaga, will forge partnerships with like-minded organisations to build harmonious space and earth networks to meet Europe’s ambitious targets for ubiquitous digital connectivity.”

Chris Ivory, AST SpaceMobile Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are excited to collaborate with Vodafone and the University of Málaga on this pioneering project. This partnership will drive forward our shared vision of providing space-based cellular broadband connectivity directly to everyday smartphones everywhere, leveraging our innovative satellite technology with the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit.”

Rafael Godoy, Dean of the School of Telecommunication Engineering at the University of Málaga, added: “This collaboration is a testament to the strength of Málaga’s technological ecosystem, to which the University of Málaga continues contributing decisively with its researchers, students and engineers graduating here.”

The Vodafone hub will specifically focus on the design, testing and validation of new open source hardware, software and processing chips that can work interchangeably in both space and terrestrial networks. It will house a space-to-land gateway, like the one Vodafone used for its successful space direct to device video call, to allow its partners and other operators to test and validate their own services connected to AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites before launching them commercially.

By enabling other operators and vendors to test services through the hub, Vodafone is encouraging collaboration across the industry that will drive innovation and deliver universal connectivity faster and more efficiently. Ultimately, Vodafone will expand the hub to become a fully managed network and service operations centre for third-party companies across Europe.

Note to Editors

Vodafone will leverage its cutting-edge development work on multi-vendor Open Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment, software and compatible silicon chip designs at the satellite hub. The Open RAN technology shares characteristics with new direct-to-device satellites which essentially act like radio antennas in space.

Vodafone has been at the forefront of building a stronger vendor ecosystem through Open RAN, including the integration of multi-vendor hardware and software, and more recently, new dedicated silicon architecture. It is now applying the same network architecture and processes to integrated satellite and land-based networks and will eventually operate these using the same Commercial Off-the-shelf Servers (COTS), just like in ORAN.

In recognition of the need to drive greater supply-chain resilience and innovation through the adoption of Open RAN, Vodafone recently received around €14 million in additional funding for its Málaga centre from the Spanish Ministry of Industry as part of an associated project under the European Commission’s Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) Programme.

Vodafone and its partners see satellite connectivity as a complementary, bolt-on technology providing valuable coverage and resilience where no feasible mobile or fixed alternative exists at present such as on mountains or out at sea. Today, existing commercial low Earth orbit satellite services work largely in isolation, with consumers requiring a special dish, terminal or satellite phone to get mobile broadband connectivity.

For more information on space-based mobile networks, please visit Satellite.

About Vodafone Group

Vodafone is a leading European and African telecoms company. We provide mobile and fixed services to over 340 million customers in 15 countries, partner with mobile networks in over 45 more and have one of the world’s largest IoT platforms. In Africa, our financial technology businesses serve almost 83 million customers across seven countries – managing more transactions than any other provider.

Our purpose is to connect for a better future by using technology to improve lives, businesses and help progress inclusive sustainable societies. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact to reach net zero emissions by 2040.

For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com follow us on X at @VodafoneGroup or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone.

About AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio, and designed for both commercial and government applications. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. For more information, follow AST SpaceMobile on YouTube, X (Formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook. Watch this video for an overview of the SpaceMobile mission.

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