The link up with AST SpaceMobile, a Texas-based company, has a target of reaching 100 per cent coverage across the entirety of Europe and will be challenging the likes of Starlink, part of Elon Musk -owned company SpaceX, the Amazon-owned Space Kuiper and OneWeb, which is part of the French organisation Eutelsat.

Vodafone has launched a new satellite mobile venture in an attempt to tackle rural “not-spots” and take on Elon Musk’s Starlink...

To this end, the two companies are setting up a joint venture to supplement European mobile networks with satellite services.

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile have signed an agreement to create a European direct-to-device satellite service business. Named SatCo (for now), the venture will aim to provide 100 percent geographic coverage in every part of Europe, distributing AST SpaceMobile’s satellite services to European mobile network operators.

Latest chapter in partnership between leading telco and low Earth orbit satellite provider sees firms unveil new organisation to give businesses access to secure space-based cellular broadband connectivity.

AST SpaceMobile (AST) and Vodafone used the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, as well as AST’s financial results, to outline how they will expand their sate

The deal with Vodafone promises to help AST SpaceMobile power satellite-to-phone services across Europe amid a growing rivalry with SpaceX's cellular Starlink service.