Satellite Connect Europe

What Satellite Connect Europe does

Satellite Connect Europe is a Luxembourg-headquartered joint venture between Vodafone Group and AST SpaceMobile, founded in 2025 and formally launched in February 2026. The company provides direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity services to European Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), enabling standard 4G and 5G smartphones to connect directly to low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for voice, SMS, and broadband data without hardware modifications. The core offering leverages exclusive European access to AST SpaceMobile's LEO satellite constellation, which carries the largest phased antenna arrays in LEO and is purpose-built to capture weak smartphone signals. Ground station infrastructure is being deployed in Germany, the UK, Spain, and France, supported by a control centre in Germany, a satellite production facility in Barcelona, and a test laboratory in Malaga.

Satellite Connect Europe operates exclusively as a B2B infrastructure provider, integrating its satellite capability into MNOs' existing terrestrial networks as a complement rather than a replacement, with revenue generated through subscription/recurring service fees paid by operators for satellite coverage extension. The company has signed strategic partnerships with major European MNOs including Vodafone Group, Vodafone Portugal, Vodafone Ireland, VodafoneThree (UK), Orange Group, Telefonica, Sunrise (Switzerland), CK Hutchison, and Virgin Media O2, with noted operator interest across 21 European countries. Customer segments extend beyond MNOs to governments and public sectors (with an active emergency services trial via Ireland's OGCIO) and businesses operating in remote, maritime, or cross-border environments where terrestrial coverage is limited. All data processing and service control remain within European jurisdiction, supporting Europe's strategic connectivity sovereignty positioning.

The business remains pre-commercial as of available data: trials and demonstrations are underway in multiple markets, with the first announced commercial launch targeted for end of 2027 in Portugal in partnership with Vodafone Portugal, subject to regulatory approval. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and contracts are negotiated per partnership. The leadership team comprises experienced telecommunications executives with backgrounds at Vodafone and European regulatory affairs.

Name

Satellite Connect Europe

Legal name

Satellite Connect Europe

Website

https://satelliteconnecteurope.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Satellite Connect Europe is a Vodafone-AST SpaceMobile joint venture that provides European Mobile Network Operators with direct-to-device satellite connectivity via exclusive access to a LEO constellation, integrating seamlessly with existing 4G/5G networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Satellite Telecommunications Services

NAICS

Satellite Telecommunications (5174), Satellite Telecommunications (51741), Satellite Telecommunications (517410)

SIC

Radiotelephone Communications (4812), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Direct-to-Device (D2D) / NTN Cellular (Satellite-to-Handset, NB-IoT NTN) (HDAIAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Satellite Ground Segment & Gateway Services (Teleports, Gateways, Ground Station-as-a-Service) (HDAIAJAH), Satellite Network Operations & Capacity Services (NOC, Capacity Leasing, Managed Payload Services) (HDAIAJAI)

Keywords

• Direct-to-device satellite
• Satellite mobile broadband
• LEO satellite connectivity
• Mobile network operators
• European telecom infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Luxembourg

HQ country

Luxembourg

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. MNO Service Fees: Revenue generated by providing direct-to-device satellite connectivity services to European Mobile Network Operators. MNOs pay for access to the satellite constellation to extend coverage, enhance resilience, and provide service continuity for their subscribers in areas beyond terrestrial network reach.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Satellite Connect Europe provides direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity services to European mobile network operators (MNOs), leveraging exclusive access to AST SpaceMobile's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. The service enables standard 4G and 5G smartphones to connect directly to satellites for voice, SMS, and broadband data, integrating seamlessly with operators' existing terrestrial networks to extend coverage into rural, maritime, and cross-border environments.

Product overview

Satellite Connect Europe is a joint venture between Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile that provides a unified direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity platform for European mobile network operators. The core offering consists of the D2D Satellite Connectivity Service, which leverages exclusive access to AST SpaceMobile's LEO satellite constellation (the largest phased antenna arrays in LEO) and integrates seamlessly with MNOs' existing 4G and 5G networks. Supporting infrastructure includes ground stations deployed across Germany, UK, Spain, and France, managed from a control centre in Germany, with satellite production in Barcelona and testing facilities in Malaga. The service targets coverage gaps, network resilience, and connectivity in rural, maritime, and cross-border environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Direct-to-Device (D2D) Satellite Connectivity Service A space-based mobile broadband service that enables standard 4G and 5G smartphones to connect directly to low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for voice, SMS, and data services. The technology integrates seamlessly with existing terrestrial mobile networks as a complement to extend coverage to rural, maritime, and cross-border areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited or unavailable. The service is sold to European mobile network operators on a partnership basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ireland's first mobile video call via satellite completed from Clare Island, County Mayo using standard smartphone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Vodafone PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2026Vodafone Portugal partnership to launch Direct-to-Device satellite mobile coverage by end of 2027, making it the country's first satellite-based mobile connectivity offering enabling standard 4G/5G smartphones to connect directly to LEO satellites.
• Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) - IrelandmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2026Partnership with Irish government through OGCIO for emergency services satellite technology trial, including live test call from Clare Island - described as first of its kind in Europe. Trial demonstrated satellite connectivity for frontline responders during severe weather or major outages.
• Vodafone IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Vodafone Ireland partnership with Satellite Connect Europe to deliver direct-to-device mobile broadband coverage. Testing underway after securing Ireland's first Test and Trial licence. Smartphones automatically connect to satellites when mobile signal drops.
• Sunrise (Switzerland)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Sunrise partnership to demonstrate and evaluate D2D satellite connectivity integration with existing 4G and 5G networks in Switzerland. Aims to enable seamless connectivity transition between mobile and satellite signals for consumers, businesses, and public services.
• VodafoneThree (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Commercial agreement with VodafoneThree to bring direct-to-device satellite connectivity capable of data, voice, and SMS to the UK, with customer trials scheduled to start in summer 2026. Partnership aims to eliminate mobile coverage gaps in hard-to-reach areas.
• Orange GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Memorandum of Understanding signed with Orange Group and AST SpaceMobile to collaborate on D2D satellite connectivity, with Romania designated as the first market for testing in H2 2026. Partnership aligns with Orange's Trust the Future strategic plan.
• TelefónicacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Telefónica partnership announced to integrate satellite D2D capabilities into existing 4G and 5G networks, as part of broader European MNO adoption of satellite-to-smartphone technology.
• CK HutchisoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026CK Hutchison partnership confirmed as part of Satellite Connect Europe's growing roster of European MNO partnerships for satellite mobile broadband deployment.
• Vodafone GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Vodafone Group is the co-founding joint venture partner of Satellite Connect Europe, established in 2025. The partnership provides exclusive European access to AST SpaceMobile's LEO satellite constellation technology for delivering direct-to-device satellite connectivity services to European MNOs.
• AST SpaceMobilecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AST SpaceMobile is the co-founding joint venture partner, providing the satellite constellation technology and BlueBird LEO satellites. Satellite Connect Europe holds exclusive European access to this technology for direct-to-device mobile broadband services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Iridium Communications: Established LEO satellite operator providing voice and data services including the Iridium Certus broadband platform and partner-integrated D2D offerings. Competes in the satellite-to-handset and mobile-satellite services space with broader legacy capabilities.
• Globalstar: Satellite operator providing MSS voice/data and Apple-emergency-services D2D capability. Competes in the satellite-to-smartphone adjacency and partner-bandwidth wholesale to MNOs and device makers.
• Inmarsat (Viasat): Mobile satellite services operator providing voice and broadband for maritime, aviation, and government users. Comparable on enterprise/government satellite connectivity and L-band MSS services that overlap with Satellite Connect Europe's critical-infrastructure and cross-border use cases.
• Telesat: Canadian satellite operator building the Lightspeed LEO constellation targeting enterprise, government and telecom backhaul. Competes for similar European MNO and government connectivity budgets, though positioned more toward backhaul than direct-to-device smartphone service.
• Viasat: Large incumbent satellite operator with a mixed GEO/LEO portfolio and growing interest in direct-to-device applications through partnerships and ViaSat-3. Competes in adjacent satellite connectivity and MNO backhaul markets but does not specialise in the LEO D2D smartphone niche.
• Eutelsat / OneWeb: Combined GEO and LEO operator with the OneWeb low-Earth-orbit constellation providing broadband, backhaul, and government connectivity across Europe. Overlaps with Satellite Connect Europe on enterprise, government and MNO backhaul demand, though focused on fixed/mobility broadband rather than smartphone D2D.

Direct peers

• AST SpaceMobile: JV co-parent and the underlying technology provider. AST SpaceMobile operates the BlueBird LEO constellation with the largest phased antenna arrays in LEO for direct-to-device smartphone connectivity, the same core capability Satellite Connect Europe sells exclusively across Europe.
• Lynk Global: Direct-to-device satellite connectivity provider building its own LEO constellation for satellite-to-smartphone services. Lynk pursues similar MNO partnership models globally and is a direct competitor in the same European and emerging-market D2D opportunity.
• SpaceX (Starlink D2D): Starlink's Direct-to-Cell service is the primary competing LEO D2D offering in Europe, already commercially live with European MNOs such as Virgin Media O2 in the UK at £3/month, posing direct competition for the same MNO subscription contracts.

Emerging players

• Skylo Technologies: NB-IoT NTN service provider enabling satellite connectivity for narrowband IoT devices and smartphones via partnerships with MNOs and chipset makers. Operates adjacent to D2D but with overlap on the satellite-to-handset integration layer that Satellite Connect Europe pursues.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/satellite-connect-europe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Satellite Connect Europe