AST SpaceMobile has entered into a definitive, 10-year commercial agreement with Vodafone Group to expand mobile coverage in underserved and remote regions around the world. The partnership, which extends through 2034, will enable Vodafone's operators to offer AST’s innovative Direct-to-Device (D2D) service in markets across Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond.

Under the terms of the agreement, Vodafone will leverage AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to provide mobile connectivity in hard-to-reach areas, bringing reliable voice, data, and video services to millions of people. The collaboration includes coverage for countries across Africa and Asia, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, India, and Turkey. Additionally, Vodafone’s Partner Markets, which include regions such as Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Vanuatu, along with South American countries Argentina, Chile, and Peru, will also benefit from the expanded service.

AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird LEO satellites enable standard mobile phones to connect directly to satellite networks, eliminating the need for specialized equipment. The satellites route mobile traffic to BlueBird gateways, which then connect to the operator's terrestrial networks. Vodafone has already placed an order for its first BlueBird Block 1 gateway, marking an important step in the rollout of the service.

In October 2024, AST SpaceMobile successfully launched the first set of BlueBird Block 1 satellites, which currently provide coverage across the United States. While the global rollout is set to take time, Vodafone’s operators and partner markets will begin to see service availability as AST SpaceMobile advances its next-generation Block 2 satellites.

The upcoming Block 2 BlueBird satellites, set to launch in 2025, will feature cutting-edge communication arrays spanning up to 2,400 square feet and will deliver peak data speeds of up to 120 Mbps. This next-generation technology is designed to support a wide range of applications, including voice, full data, and video services. The current Block 1 satellites have already demonstrated download speeds exceeding 20 Mbps over a 5 MHz channel in initial testing.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in AST SpaceMobile’s mission to bridge the global digital divide by providing mobile connectivity to some of the most remote and underserved regions. The partnership with Vodafone will help ensure that millions of people around the world gain access to reliable mobile services, unlocking new opportunities for communication, business, and education.