The Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO) is likely to launch an American communications satellite that will allow direct calling from space.
According to a report by NDTV, this will be the first time that an American company will introduce a massive communications satellite on a rocket from India. So far, India has only launched small satellites manufactured by US entities.
“We will launch an American satellite for mobile communications in February or March. This satellite will enable voice communications on mobile phones. It will be an interesting mission,” the report quoted Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh.
AST SpaceMobile to manufacture the satellite
However, there is no official confirmation from the American company that will manufacture the communications satellite. According to experts, AST SpaceMobile, a Texas-based company, is expected to launch the communications satellite from Sriharikota, the report said.
AST SpaceMobile has stated that users can use any smartphone to make calls. Other satellite-based Internet and voice calling providers ask their subscribers to purchase separate handsets or terminals, such as the Starlink.
In an investor call last year, AST SpaceMobile CEO Abel Avellan confirmed that it will use the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) to launch a single Block 2 of the Bluebird satellite, the report said, citing to American media reports. .
The Bluebird satellite will have an antenna of 64 square meters, half the size of a football field. The weight will be approximately 6,000 kg.
The report quoted Abel Avellan's earlier statement that they have “invented a technology that connects satellites directly to ordinary cell phones and provides broadband internet via the largest commercial phase array ever in low Earth orbit.”
He said AST SpaceMobile's mission aims to close the global connectivity gap and digitally transform countries by “bringing affordable 5G broadband services from space to billions of people around the world, straight to everyday smartphones.”