Orange Partners with AST SpaceMobile, Vodafone on Satellite Connectivity

Orange signed a MoU with AST SpaceMobile and its European joint venture with Vodafone to test direct-to-device satellite connectivity in Romania.

French telecommunications group Orange has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AST SpaceMobile and Satellite Connect Europe, a European joint venture between AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone, to collaborate on Direct-to-Device satellite technology across relevant Orange markets. The agreement was announced March 2 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Orange and Satellite Connect Europe will conduct demonstrations in Romania during the second half of 2026 covering voice, SMS, and data connectivity. The collaboration also includes exploring specific measures to support European security requirements and studying integration into a Core Network managed by Orange.

The initiative aligns with Orange's new strategic plan, "Trust the future," which places trust at the core of the Group's services and operating model. Orange aims to provide "always-available connectivity" to customers through complementarity between its terrestrial mobile networks and satellite connectivity. The group already demonstrated this capability in France with the commercial launch of its "Message Satellite" SMS service in December 2025, a first for a European telecom operator.

Orange CEO Christel Heydemann stated that Direct-to-Device satellite connectivity is "an essential complement to our mobile networks, ensuring 100% connectivity for our customers wherever they are located."  She emphasized the company's commitment to providing "trusted, secure solutions that comply with European regulations." 

Abel Avellan, Founder and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, said the partnership marks "meaningful progress toward expanding resilient coverage across more geographies and eliminating coverage gaps to extend mobile broadband everywhere."  Meredith Sharples, Satellite Connect Europe Managing Director, noted the MoU is recognition of the need for a satellite provider that is focused on European MNOs." 

Orange executive Michaël Trabbia stressed the importance of European technological sovereignty, stating that one key objective is "to avoid that the service could be cut off or controlled by non-European actors or under extraterritorial legislation."  This is Orange's third partnership in the direct-to-device field, following agreements with Skylo and MasOrange's collaboration with Starlink in Spain.