Vodafone Португалии запустит спутниковую связь для обычных смартфонов к 2027 году

Vodafone vows coverage with AST SpaceMobile in Portugal August 24, 2026 By Chris Forrester Vodafone Portugal’s partnership with the European satellite communications joint venture (Satellite Connect Europe) positions Vodafone to be the first operator to provide this universal connectivity service in the country by 2027. Vodafone Portugal and Satellite Connect Europe (a joint venture between Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile for mobile broadband satellite communications) have established a partnership to launch a commercial mobile satellite connectivity service using conventional smartphones. In this way, Vodafone says it is positioning itself to be the first operator in the country to provide, by the end of 2027, access to mobile communications in any part of Portuguese territory that may not be served by terrestrial coverage, allowing any conventional smartphone to make a connection using satellite technology. Additionally, it will allow communications to be maintained during emergency situations, such as storms and power outages. With this agreement, and after all regulatory authorisations for spectrum use have been secured, the next step will be to guarantee the commercial availability of the solution through a soft ‘beta’ launch, complementing Vodafone’s current terrestrial mobile network. With this extension of the terrestrial network via satellite, it will be possible to switch between space and terrestrial networks to access broadband data, make calls and send SMS easily. This will make mobile coverage available even in hard-to-reach areas, without the need for dedicated antennas, specialised devices or expensive satellite phones, complementing Vodafone’s advanced 5G network across Europe. “This step forward in exploring new forms of communication reinforces Vodafone Portugal’s commitment to the digitalisation and modernisation of society and to strengthening the competitiveness of the economy. On the other hand, it contributes to solidifying national security, paving the way for universal connectivity,” says Luís Lopes, CEO of Vodafone Portugal. “This commercial agreement reinforces the momentum of mobile network operators around satellite connectivity, as well as our unique technology and partnership approach,” says Meredith Sharples, General Manager of Satellite Connect Europe. “Vodafone Portugal has a clear vision to integrate satellite technology into its network and improve mobile coverage and resilience across the country.”