Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile announced plans for a Europe-led satellite constellation to provide satellite-to-smartphone connectivity for commercial and government use. The European operational center will be in Germany, managed by a joint venture between the companies. The market for satellite-to-phone connectivity is projected to exceed $10 billion by 2033. The constellation will offer mobile network operators across Europe broadband services, public protection, and disaster relief. In competition with Starlink, AST SpaceMobile aims to deploy up to 60 satellites by 2026. Commercial operations are set to begin in 2026, providing secure satellite communications for European operators.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Vodafone, AST SpaceMobile to set up Europe-led satellite constellation