Europe will see the birth of the first research hub dedicated to the development of integrated mobile connectivity services between Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and 4G/5G terrestrial networks. The initiative will enable the rapid development of technology that will allow users to switch between the two networks using their traditional smartphones without interruption. The hub, which will be located at the European Innovation Centre in Málaga, will be operational by the summer and will initially be supported by funding from the Spanish Space Agency.
The project is a collaboration between the Vodafone Group, AST SpaceMobile and the University of Malaga (UMA), with the invitation open to other technology companies and developers to create a new technology ecosystem capable of combining satellite and terrestrial connectivity aimed at promoting common standards in Europe.
A step towards universal connectivity
The initiative is a direct result of the technological milestone Vodafone reached last month when it made the first ‘direct-to-cell’ space video call on smartphones. The technology would allow the company to provide seamless mobile coverage to its 340 million customers in 15 countries, in addition to network partners in 45 other markets. The commercial launch of the direct satellite connectivity service on smartphones in Europe is planned for late 2025 to early 2026. An important innovation not only for its commercial potential but also as a valid alternative to other services already on the market, such as those offered by Amazon with the Kuiper project and SpaceX with Starlink.
A research centre for open-source hardware and software
Vodafone’s hub in Málaga will focus on the development, testing, and validation of open-source hardware, software, and processing chips capable of operating on both terrestrial and satellite networks. It will also host a ground-to-space gateway similar to the one at Newbury in the UK, which was used for the first space-based video call, offering telecoms operators and service providers the chance to test their solutions before their commercial deployment with AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites.
Vodafone’s ultimate goal is to transform the centre into a dedicated Network & Service Operations Centre (NOC) for third-party companies across Europe. This openness to collaboration will help accelerate innovation, making universal connectivity more accessible, efficient and faster. Rafael Godoy, dean of the School of Telecommunications Engineering at the University of Málaga, highlighted the strategic role of the Spanish city: ‘This collaboration demonstrates the strength of Málaga’s technology ecosystem, to which the University of Málaga continues to make a key contribution with its highly qualified researchers, students and engineers.’
With this initiative, Vodafone brings Europe one step closer to the complete integration of space and earth in the telecommunications sector. Plans for terrestrial space broadband will be unveiled by the company at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona from 3 to 6 March 2025. The integration of satellite networks with modern 5G communication infrastructures represents one of the most promising developments in the European telecommunications sector. According to the report ‘State of Digital Communications 2025’ by Analysis Mason for Connect Europe, revenues from 5G satellite services are set to grow exponentially, from USD 17 million in 2025 to a staggering USD 2.4 billion by 2033, a 130-fold increase.
The Europe will lead the way
This swift growth is driven by the demand for new applications with pervasive coverage facilitated by the complementarity of satellite and terrestrial technologies. Strategic partnerships between satellite and terrestrial operators are thus becoming an integral part of the European telecommunications market, generating additional revenue streams from services like mobile backhaul and connectivity to transport or very remote areas. As operators begin to integrate satellite services into their portfolios, Europe is most poised to lead this technology revolution. By embracing the adoption of these converged solutions, the continent can lead other markets by example and demonstrate how the successful convergence of space and ground networks can be used to increase global connectivity and drive innovation.
