Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile Establish Germany-Based Satellite Operations Centre to Advance Europe’s Sovereign Mobile Connectivity

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile Establish Germany-Based Satellite Operations Centre to Advance Europe’s Sovereign Mobile Connectivity

(IN BRIEF) Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile have selected Germany as the location for their main Satellite Operations Centre, reinforcing Europe’s digital sovereignty and advancing the rollout of SatCo, their joint venture providing space-based mobile broadband services. Based near Munich or Hannover, the centre will oversee the operations of SatCo’s planned satellite constellation, equipped with a European “command switch” for enhanced security, encryption, and oversight. The constellation will extend 4G and 5G coverage to underserved regions and support emergency and disaster communications across Europe. Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle highlighted the importance of ensuring Europe’s next-generation satellite infrastructure remains within EU jurisdiction, while AST SpaceMobile CEO Abel Avellan said the new hub would be central to serving millions of users across the continent. The initiative aligns with the EU’s Critical Communication System strategy and is expected to launch commercially in 2026.

(PRESS RELEASE) BERKSHIRE, 7-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Vodafone has announced that, together with its strategic partner AST SpaceMobile, it has selected Germany as the home of its new Satellite Operations Centre — a key step in strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty and ensuring secure, space-based mobile broadband connectivity across the continent. The new facility will manage satellite connectivity under the partners’ recently formed Luxembourg-headquartered joint venture, SatCo, which will deliver mobile broadband directly to standard smartphones without the need for specialised devices. The Operations Centre will coordinate and oversee satellite activity across Europe, providing critical infrastructure to connect underserved regions and support emergency communications.

Located near either Munich or Hannover, the centre will operate as the primary command hub for SatCo’s planned mid-band satellite constellation, which is designed to work seamlessly alongside existing terrestrial mobile networks. The system will include a built-in “command switch” to allow for full European oversight and security management — including encryption key updates and real-time control of satellite communications across the continent. In addition to improving coverage in rural and remote areas, SatCo’s constellation will play an essential role in supporting public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) operations by providing emergency broadband services even in areas cut off from traditional connectivity.

Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone Group, stated that SatCo will “deliver a sovereign satellite solution to the whole of Europe,” ensuring that operators can access secure and resilient satellite communications. She added that by embedding the new satellite infrastructure and command centre in the EU, Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile are securing Europe’s next frontier in communications technology. Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, emphasised that the Germany-based hub will serve as the operations centre for the company’s BlueBird constellation, providing seamless mobile broadband to millions of users and reinforcing Europe’s leadership in space-based telecommunications.

The planned satellite constellation will contribute to the EU Critical Communication System (EUCCS) initiative by enhancing emergency coordination and enabling robust, high-speed mobile connectivity for responders. Engineers at the facility will monitor satellite performance, respond to space-related events such as solar flares, and oversee the network of European gateway stations that provide secure backhaul between satellites and terrestrial 4G/5G networks. The system allows users to switch automatically between terrestrial and satellite coverage, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.

AST SpaceMobile has filed through Germany with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to register the constellation, ensuring compatibility and mitigation of signal interference with existing telecom networks. Germany’s central location offers strategic advantages for SatCo’s operational integration, making it an ideal base for Europe’s first truly sovereign, space-based mobile broadband network. The joint venture aims to launch commercial operations in 2026, marking a transformative step toward making satellite connectivity an integral part of Europe’s digital infrastructure.

Notes to Editors

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile’s joint efforts have already led to a series of groundbreaking achievements in direct-to-device connectivity with everyday smartphones, including:

AST SpaceMobile has agreements with over 50 mobile network operators with nearly 3 billion subscribers globally. Its technology, backed by over 3,700 patent and patent-pending claims, is designed to support both government and commercial customers. The company is based in Midland, Texas with 95% vertically integrated manufacturing of state-of-the-art facilities. The next-generation Block 2 BlueBirds featuring up to 2,400 square foot communications arrays, are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird satellites in orbit today, enabling peak data transmission speeds up to 120 Mbps, supporting voice, full data, and video applications.

Contact details

Media Relations:
Vodafone.com/media/contact
GroupMedia@vodafone.com

Investor Relations:
investors.vodafone.com
ir@vodafone.co.uk

Registered Office:
Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN, England. Registered in England No. 1833679

About Vodafone

Vodafone is a leading European and African telecoms company.

We serve over 355 million mobile and broadband customers, operating networks in 15 countries with investments in a further five and partners in over 40 more. Our undersea cables transport around a sixth of the world’s internet traffic, and we are developing a new direct-to-mobile satellite communications service to connect areas without coverage. Vodafone runs one of the world’s largest IoT platforms, with 215 million IoT connections globally, and we provide financial services to around 92 million customers across seven African countries – managing more transactions than any other provider.

From the seabed to the stars, Vodafone’s purpose is to keep everyone connected.

For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com follow us on X at @VodafoneGroup or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone.

About AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio, and designed for both commercial and government applications. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. For more information, follow AST SpaceMobile on YouTube, X (Formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook. Watch this video for an overview of the SpaceMobile mission.

Investor Contact:

Scott Wisniewski
investors@ast-science.com

Media Contacts:

Allison
Eva Murphy Ryan
917-547-7289
AstSpaceMobile@allisonpr.com

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of AST SpaceMobile to differ materially from those expected and projected. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential,” “projects,” “predicts,” “continue,” or “should,” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology.

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside AST SpaceMobile’s control and are difficult to predict.

Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) expectations regarding AST SpaceMobile’s strategies and future financial performance, including AST’s future business plans or objectives, expected functionality of the SpaceMobile Service, anticipated timing of the launch of the Block 2 BlueBird satellites, anticipated demand and acceptance of mobile satellite services, prospective performance and commercial opportunities and competitors, the timing of obtaining regulatory approvals, ability to finance its research and development activities, commercial partnership acquisition and retention, products and services, pricing, marketing plans, operating expenses, market trends, revenues, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and AST SpaceMobile’s ability to invest in growth initiatives; (ii) the negotiation of definitive agreements with mobile network operators relating to the SpaceMobile Service that would supersede preliminary agreements and memoranda of understanding and the ability to enter into commercial agreements with other parties or government entities; (iii) the ability of AST SpaceMobile to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees and AST SpaceMobile’s responses to actions of its competitors and its ability to effectively compete; (iv) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (v) the possibility that AST SpaceMobile may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (vi) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against AST SpaceMobile; and (vii) other risks and uncertainties indicated in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including those in the Risk Factors section of AST SpaceMobile’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2025.

AST SpaceMobile cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. AST SpaceMobile cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors in AST SpaceMobile’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2025. AST SpaceMobile’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, AST SpaceMobile disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: Vodafone Group