Vodacom plans to provide mobile connectivity with 4G and 5G speeds through a satellite-based communications service across several African countries in 2023.<\/p>\n
The initiative forms part of an agreement between parent company Vodafone Group and AST SpaceMobile, which is building the world\u2019s first\u00a0global broadband cellular network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices.<\/p>\n
The first tranche of AST SpaceMobile\u2019s launch plans will involve the use of 20 satellites to offer low-latency mobile connectivity that can be accessed by approximately 1.6 billion people living in the 49 largest countries of the world\u2019s equatorial regions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe initial service will target an area north and south of the equator, including rural and remote areas of a number of markets where Vodafone will integrate the technology into the services provided by its Vodacom, Safaricom and Vodafone brands,\u201d the company explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cSubject to regulatory approval in each market, these will include DRC,\u00a0Ghana,<\/span>\u00a0Mozambique,<\/span>\u00a0Kenya,<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0Tanzania,<\/span>\u201d AST SpaceMobile said. It also plans to secure approval in India.<\/p>\n Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub said that providing affordable mobile coverage requires a blend of technologies and infrastructure \u2013 including traditional masts and small cells, balloons, and satellites at the edge of space.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we have been adding deep rural network sites to connect remote communities without any coverage, the lack of power in some areas creates insurmountable obstacles,\u201d Joosub said.<\/p>\n \u201cAST SpaceMobile will ensure that remote communities in many sub-Saharan African countries can have access to the latest digital services,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Works with standard devices<\/strong><\/p>\n Traditional satellite-based systems require expensive specialised satellite phones or ground antennas to communicate.<\/p>\n AST SpaceMobile said its service will be the first of its kind to connect standard mobile phones at 4G and 5G speeds without this specialised equipment, as it employs AST SpaceMobile\u2019s patented space-based network.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a significant breakthrough in helping to bring affordable mobile connectivity to more than half of the world\u2019s population that do not have Internet on their phone,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, more than five billion mobile subscribers constantly move in and out of wireless coverage, and AST SpaceMobile\u2019s solution will fill these coverage gaps to enable people to stay connected whilst on the move,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n Vodafone said that the network will also enable it to provide instant communications in the event of a natural or humanitarian disaster.<\/p>\n This article first appeared on MyBroadband. you can read it here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
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