AST SpaceMobile Teams Up with Vodafone For Satellite Broadband Service Across Europe
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 03 2025
0mins
Source: Benzinga
AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone Partnership: AST SpaceMobile has partnered with Vodafone to create a new European satellite service venture called "SatCo," aimed at providing comprehensive space-based cellular broadband coverage across Europe for mobile network operators.
Company Developments and Financial Outlook: AST SpaceMobile is expanding its operations in Spain with a new facility, has secured a $43 million contract with the U.S. Space Development Agency, and is expected to report a loss of 17 cents per share with revenues of $19.20 million in its upcoming earnings report.
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About VOD
Vodafone Group Plc is a telecoms company. The Company provides mobile and fixed services to over 355 million customers in 15 countries, partners with mobile networks in over 40 more and has IoT platforms. In Africa, its financial technology businesses serve almost 92 million customers across seven countries. Its products include Unified Communications, Mobile Connectivity, Fixed Connectivity, Digital Applications, IoT Connectivity, Cloud & Edge, E2E Solutions, and Security. Its unified communications solutions include Microsoft Teams Voice, voice services, and recording services. Its digital applications include Gemini for Google Workspace, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 Business, and Copilot for Microsoft 365. Its Cloud & Edge services include cloud services, mobile private networks, and multi-access edge computing (MEC). It provides solutions for large and multinational business, small and medium business, international public sector, and carriers and digital service providers.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Satellite Launch Progress: To date, AST has successfully launched seven satellites, including five BlueBird satellites in September 2024 and a larger Block 2 satellite in December 2025, which provide a crucial technological foundation and enhance its competitive position in the market.
- Expansion Plans Approved: The FCC approved AST's ambitious long-term expansion plans in April 2024, aiming to increase its satellite count to 45-60 by the end of 2026, positioning the company to challenge competitors like SpaceX and Amazon in the LEO satellite market.
- Revenue Projections Surge: Analysts expect AST's revenue to soar from $71 million in 2025 to $1.86 billion by 2028, with EBITDA projected to turn positive in 2027 and reach $1.26 billion in 2028, indicating significant future profitability and market value potential.
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- Satellite Launch Progress: To date, AST has successfully launched seven satellites, including five BlueBird satellites in September 2024 and a larger Block 2 satellite in December 2025, which provide a crucial technological foundation and enhance its competitive position in the market.
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- Support for Trade Growth: In 2024, bilateral trade between Tanzania and China reached $8.8 billion, while trade with Uganda grew to approximately $2.23 billion, a 64% increase, further boosting Tanzania's competitiveness in regional and global markets.
- Economic Empowerment: Vodacom Tanzania's M-Pesa Director stated that this solution is more than just a payment feature; it serves as a catalyst for economic empowerment, helping small and medium enterprises thrive in the global market and enhancing users' access to financial tools.
- User-Friendly Experience: Through Thunes' global network, users can securely and conveniently send payments to merchants in Uganda and China via the M-Pesa USSD menu or Super App, eliminating traditional banking barriers and facilitating smooth daily transactions.
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- Increased Market Competition: This acquisition will bolster Amazon Leo's competitive stance against SpaceX's Starlink, which operates over 10,000 satellites and serves over 10 million users, potentially increasing Amazon's market share in the satellite internet sector.
- Strategic Implications: Analysts at Morgan Stanley noted that Globalstar's spectrum licenses will enable Amazon to provide direct-to-device services, filling gaps in areas lacking traditional cellular coverage, which is expected to drive future revenue growth.
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- Contingency Plans: These companies are formulating contingency plans that include options like rationing network access, slowing down speeds to reduce energy consumption, and implementing surge pricing, indicating the increasing cost pressures they face amid high energy prices.
- 5G Expansion Challenges: Telecom firms have cautioned that they may need to scale back their 5G network expansion plans, which could lead to job cuts or offshoring, reflecting the uncertainty in investment and development within the industry.
- Lack of Government Support: Despite the UK government unveiling the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, telecom operators were excluded, prompting them to urge the government to recognize their critical role as national infrastructure to ensure sustainable industry growth.
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