Bell Canada has achieved a significant milestone in its satellite-to-mobile coverage endeavor by completing the construction of a ground station in Quebec. The telecommunications company had announced its partnership with Texas-based AST SpaceMobile last fall to provide space-based cellular service through low-earth orbit satellites.
The ground station facility is now operational and undergoing testing to integrate Bell’s terrestrial network with AST SpaceMobile’s satellite constellation. This integration aims to establish a space-based cellular broadband network that will support direct-to-device satellite service in Canada.
Bell has successfully conducted integration testing at the ground station, including text messaging, data connectivity, voice calls, and video calls on standard smartphones. Additional tests for video streaming, public alerts, and other features are scheduled in the coming weeks.
The purpose of this technology is to ensure connectivity for Bell customers in areas where traditional wireless networks are not accessible, such as northern communities and remote coastal regions.
Mark McDonald, Bell’s executive vice-president and chief technology officer, emphasized the infrastructure’s capability to provide a comprehensive range of direct-to-device services, extending connectivity to remote and underserved areas. The company aims to launch its satellite coverage early next year.
AST SpaceMobile’s Chief Commercial Officer, Chris Ivory, assured customers of a seamless connectivity experience on their smartphones. He highlighted the importance of extending cellular broadband coverage to areas beyond traditional terrestrial infrastructure due to Canada’s vast and varied geography.
In a similar initiative, Rogers Communications Inc. partnered with SpaceX to launch its satellite-to-mobile service a year ago, utilizing Starlink’s low-earth orbit satellites to connect cellphones in areas with poor coverage. Rogers has gradually expanded its service offerings, starting with text messaging for beta users and later introducing WhatsApp voice and video calling. Plans are underway to enable traditional cellphone calls, including 911 services, this year.
