Texas-based AST SpaceMobile is building the world’s first space-based mobile network, and it’s just one step away from realizing it.
The company announced today that it has successfully conducted a two-way, dial-up satellite voice call from the Midland, Texas area all the way to Rakuten, Japan over the AT&T spectrum. The most impressive part? All done on a regular smartphone, SamsungGalaxy S22 exact.
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AST SpaceMobile has achieved this by dialing into the BlueWalker 3 (BW3) satellite, a low-orbit communications system that in the future will serve 2G, 3G, 4G LTE and even 5G broadband for users worldwide, not just in the United States. The company also enlisted the help of engineers from Vodafone, Rakuten and AT&T to prepare and test the BW3.
By integrating AST SpaceMobile’s patented architecture and system with unmodified functionality smartphoneusers will be able to make phone calls, exchange text messages, etc., without having to worry about being in areas with poor cell service — a common problem for people living in rural areas. and coastal.
The AST SpaceMobile team with engineers from Vodafone, AT&T and Rakuten. AST SpaceMobile
“Dead zones” are even more common in developing countries that are not equipped with local cell towers for connectivity. Abel Avellan, President and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, said: “Achieving what many once considered impossible, we have achieved the most significant milestone to date in our mission to deliver bandwidth. global mobility from space”.
We’ll have to wait and see what happens next for the mobile company in the space, but the success of this test is a step in the right direction to making communication experiences more reliable for all. everybody.
