Bell Canada has achieved a significant milestone in its satellite-to-mobile coverage initiative by completing the construction of a ground station in Quebec. The telecommunications company had previously announced a partnership with AST SpaceMobile to provide space-based cellular service using low-earth orbit satellites.
Bell has commenced testing at the ground station facility to integrate its space-based cellular broadband network with AST SpaceMobile’s satellite constellation and Bell’s terrestrial network. This ground station will be part of the Canadian infrastructure supporting direct-to-device satellite service.
Integration testing, including text messaging, data connectivity, voice calls, and video calls on standard smartphones, has been successfully completed at the ground station. Further tests for video streaming, public alerts, and additional features are planned in the upcoming weeks.
The technology aims to provide connectivity to Bell customers in remote areas where traditional wireless networks are unavailable, such as northern communities and remote coastal regions. Bell’s satellite coverage is scheduled for launch early next year.
Mark McDonald, Bell’s executive vice-president and chief technology officer, stated that the satellite ground infrastructure is designed to offer various direct-to-device capabilities, extending connectivity to remote and underserved areas. AST SpaceMobile’s chief commercial officer, Chris Ivory, assured customers of a seamless connectivity experience on their smartphones.
Rogers Communications Inc., a competitor of Bell, introduced its own satellite-to-mobile service in collaboration with SpaceX’s Starlink a year ago. Rogers has been expanding its service offerings to include text messaging, WhatsApp voice and video calling, and plans to enable traditional cellphone calls, including 911 services, this year.