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Vodacom Group has announced that it is conducting formal trials of a space-based network in collaboration with its Kenyan subsidiary, Safaricom. The move has sparked speculation about Vodacom’s direct competition with Starlink’s satellite services in Africa.

According to Vodacom’s Integrated Report 2023, AST SpaceMobile will scale up its satellite deployments in partnership with Vodacom to provide ubiquitous communications to 4G devices across Africa. This will enable Vodacom to offer coverage in rural areas where traditional terrestrial communications solutions are challenging.

The trials are being conducted through AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 satellite. Vodafone Group Plc, the parent company of Vodacom, is an investor in AST SpaceMobile, which differentiates itself from Starlink by connecting to unmodified mobile phones without a modem.

AST SpaceMobile aims to be the first space-based network to connect standard mobile phones at broadband speeds. The company plans to eliminate coverage gaps by allowing devices to switch seamlessly between space and ground-based networks. In tests conducted in Hawaii, speeds of over 10Mbps were achieved.

AST SpaceMobile’s technology is designed to expand coverage for wireless companies, filling gaps and dead zones in their networks. This has the potential to bring cellular broadband services to millions of people worldwide who lack reliable cellular service.

Vodacom currently operates in several African countries, including South Africa, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone, serving over 185 million customers. With formal trials taking place in Kenya, it is likely to be the first market to benefit from the comprehensive coverage offered by a space-based service through Safaricom.

In contrast, Elon Musk’s Starlink has already initiated its services in Kenya, with 1.5 million subscribers. Starlink requires customers to install an antenna and WiFi router, while AST SpaceMobile’s services for Safaricom customers will not require any physical infrastructure installation.

The satellite-to-device market is gaining momentum, driven by new regulations and the integration of satellites into terrestrial networks. Research firm Statista predicts that worldwide subscribers in this market will reach 110 million by 2025 and surge to 330 million by 2030.

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