Reuters206d agoneutral
Orange adds AST SpaceMobile to growing roster of satellite-to-mobile partnersFrench telecommunications leader Orange on Monday announced a partnership with AST SpaceMobile and Satellite Connect Europe, a joint venture between AST and Vodafone, to boost direct-to-cell connectivity. Direct-to-device satellite services allow standard smartphones to connect to satellites without specialized hardware, which is particularly valuable in markets where terrestrial infrastructure remains patchy. Demonstrations covering voice, SMS and data are planned in Romania for late 2026, Orange said.