Vodacom set to launch satellite-based mobile network in 2023

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Vodacom set to launch satellite-based mobile network in 2023​

Vodacom plans to provide mobile connectivity with 4G and 5G speeds through a satellite-based communications service across several African countries in 2023.

The initiative forms part of an agreement between parent company Vodafone Group and AST SpaceMobile, which is building the world’s first global broadband cellular network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices.

The first tranche of AST SpaceMobile’s 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’s equatorial regions.

 

[wingnut771]

"to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices."

How is this possible?

 

[DTBA]

Vodacom set to launch satellite-based mobile network in 2023​

Vodacom plans to provide mobile connectivity with 4G and 5G speeds through a satellite-based communications service across several African countries in 2023.

The initiative forms part of an agreement between parent company Vodafone Group and AST SpaceMobile, which is building the world’s first global broadband cellular network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices.

The first tranche of AST SpaceMobile’s 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’s equatorial regions.

I am no expert but using 20 satellites for 1.6 billion people sounds like a bad idea.

 

[RandomGeek]

Hang on...Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites orbit hundreds of kms above our heads. How the hell is the uplink going to work between Frikkie's unmodified 3310 and a satellite...the phone will be smoking hot and the battery drained in a few minutes?

 

[ArmatageShanks]

Nah too late, just go make a deal with starlink.

 

[SilverCode]

I might be wrong, but I get the impression that they will deploy remote base stations/towers, then use satellite as the backbone link between the station and satellite.

That way they save on running hard lines (copper/fibre) to each tower, saving on costs and still be able to use regular mobile phones with their regular towers and low number of satellites.

I don't think this is a StarLink type situation where the individual connects directly to the satellite.

 

[Jola]

I might be wrong, but I get the impression that they will deploy remote base stations/towers, then use satellite as the backbone link between the station and satellite.

That way they save on running hard lines (copper/fibre) to each tower, saving on costs and still be able to use regular mobile phones with their regular towers and low number of satellites.

I don't think this is a StarLink type situation where the individual connects directly to the satellite.

"remote base stations/towers"

Sounds like free solar panels and batteries for the masses.

TIA

 

[Kyoto]

I might be wrong, but I get the impression that they will deploy remote base stations/towers, then use satellite as the backbone link between the station and satellite.

That way they save on running hard lines (copper/fibre) to each tower, saving on costs and still be able to use regular mobile phones with their regular towers and low number of satellites.

I don't think this is a StarLink type situation where the individual connects directly to the satellite.

They claim it will be directly from the Mobile to the satellite, and the service will only be available through mobile operators, Vodafone have invested in the project. Check out the link below.

AST & Science (ast-science.com)

 

[boboudts]

"to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices."

How is this possible?

Use two wire coat hangers for an aerial, instead of one?

 

[yebocan]

They claim it will be directly from the Mobile to the satellite, and the service will only be available through mobile operators, Vodafone have invested in the project. Check out the link below.

AST & Science (ast-science.com)

interesting.... reads like a tech game changer of note

 

[grok]

It's Vodacom, Elon's gonna sue them like the please call me saga..

 

[Ockie]

Very interesting. So it is not a setup where the tower uses Satellite as backhaul on a standard Satellite link in the traditional sense. The satellites are like GSM and LTE towers, but obviously in a different satellite shape and size and transmits standard GSM/UMTS and LTE/5G signal to the ground.

I am very curious though what GSM and LTE frequencies and spectrum they will be using. How will this be determined country by country to make sure they dont interfere with existing network frequencies and spectrum?????????????????

 

[blunt]

Texas satellite company defends itself against NASA criticisms

“We’re not a bunch of cowboys launching satellites.”

arstechnica.com

900m squared flying disks..

 

[Dups!]

This could really be a major breakthrough if it works "flawlessly."

 

[km2]

If this works having 100% area coverage of a country via a provider-of-last-resort would be great (rather than the current bullshittier stat of 99.74% "population" coverage). I'm sure would also help with future tower planning, when they can see there is increasing usage in an area but no existing terrestrial coverage.

 

[Geoff.D]

Not again! When are these guys ever going to learn?
Just because the funding is there doesn't make this any better than all the other hairbrained LEO schemes.

 

[Dairyfarmer]

Phone calls are going to be fun with the latency.

 

[Ockie]

If this works having 100% area coverage of a country via a provider-of-last-resort would be great (rather than the current bullshittier stat of 99.74% "population" coverage).

This is very true. When me and my sister drove from Johannesburg to West Coast to visit my mom.....dear lord....between those towns in the Northern Cape there is absolutely 0 coverage. We were both really nervous we have a breakdown with the car or something and we simply cannot call for help.

Something like this would be great. Even if you are in a city, there are dead spots or very poor signal. The providers can in that case either offer the service to you for free or as I suspect they will do, sell you the service as a value added service to give you good signal wherever you are.

 

[Thor]

Elon is already eating their lunch

 

[j4ck455]

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’s patented space-based network.

Using what frequency exactly?

If it's somewhere in the region of 800MHz I could believe that a 4G cellphone might be able to transmit with sufficient power at low frequency to reach a satellite network.

Of course that means SA will never get it because the SABC and Sentech are still polluting the low frequency spectrum with an analogue crapper: