Vodafone Idea partners with AST SpaceMobile to expand mobile connectivity in remote regions

“India, with its vast and dynamic telecom market, is the ideal place to demonstrate how our space-based cellular broadband can seamlessly complement terrestrial networks,” said Chris Ivory, Chief Commercial Officer, AST SpaceMobile,

“We are not just expanding coverage; we are breaking down barriers to connectivity, enabling everyday smartphones to access 4G and 5G directly from space. Together with Vodafone Idea, we are excited to unlock new possibilities for emergency response, disaster management, agriculture, remote learning, and countless other applications that will benefit from truly ubiquitous mobile broadband,” he added.

Vi and AST SpaceMobile also plan to develop commercial offerings for diverse market segments, including consumer, enterprise, and IoT applications.

With this development, all major private telecom service providers in India—Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and now Vodafone Idea—are moving toward offering satellite-based connectivity. While Jio has partnered with SES and Airtel with Eutelsat’s OneWeb, Vi’s collaboration with AST SpaceMobile stands out by providing direct satellite connectivity to standard smartphones—such as iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices—without the need for satellite phones, dishes, or terminals. The traditional satellite communication systems require specialized user equipment. AST SpaceMobile partners with mobile network operators globally—including Vodafone Idea, AT&T, Verizon, and Rakuten Mobile—to deliver its space-based services.