Vi Forays into Satcom Race with America's AST SpaceMobile

Vodafone Idea, the debt-ridden telecom operator, has officially entered the satellite internet space through a partnership with US-based AST SpaceMobile. In a regulatory filing, the company stated that the alliance will combine Vi’s terrestrial network with AST SpaceMobile’s space-based cellular technology, which can connect directly to standard smartphones without the need for any specialised software, device modifications, or updates.

“This space-based cellular broadband ecosystem will be designed to extend Vi’s telecom services beyond terrestrial connectivity, offering voice, video, data streaming, and internet access,” the companies said. “AST SpaceMobile will develop, manufacture, and operate the satellite constellation, while Vi will manage terrestrial network integration, spectrum usage, and market access.”

With this partnership, Vodafone Idea becomes the third and final major private telecom player in India to enter the satellite communication sector. Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have also announced plans to provide Satcom services in India—Airtel in collaboration with Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio with Luxembourg-based SES. Both telecom firms have also signed separate agreements with Elon Musk’s Starlink to offer satellite-based services and hardware in the country.

Vi said the new alliance could unlock multiple applications, including emergency services, disaster recovery, agriculture, and more.

AST SpaceMobile began building its satellite network last July with the launch of five satellites under the BlueBird 1–5 mission. It now plans to launch approximately 60 more satellites over the next six to nine months across five missions.

Currently, AST SpaceMobile offers limited but nationwide satellite coverage in the US, supported by over 5,600 low-band spectrum cells, and plans to significantly increase its processing bandwidth.

To provide satellite broadband in India, Vi must secure a GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite) services license. Earlier this month, Starlink received this license after more than two years of review, joining Jio Satellite Communications and Airtel-backed Eutelsat OneWeb as authorised satcom providers in the country.

All eyes are now on the Department of Telecommunications to begin allocating spectrum for these services.

Vi stated that the partnership will enable direct-to-smartphone satellite connectivity, delivering mobile broadband to areas currently beyond the reach of traditional cellular networks.

Together, Vi and AST SpaceMobile also plan to develop commercial offerings across consumer, enterprise, and IoT segments.