Bell Canada has achieved a significant milestone in its satellite-to-mobile coverage initiative with the completion of a ground station construction in Quebec. The telecommunications company had announced a partnership with AST SpaceMobile, a Texas-based firm, to launch space-based cellular service using low-earth orbit satellites.
Testing is now underway at the ground station facility, which is being connected to AST SpaceMobile’s satellite constellation to merge its space-based cellular broadband network with Bell’s terrestrial network. This ground station will play a crucial role in supporting direct-to-device satellite service in Canada.
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 primary goal 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. Bell aims to launch its satellite coverage early next year to enhance connectivity for its customers.
Mark McDonald, Bell’s executive vice-president and chief technology officer, emphasized that the satellite ground infrastructure being developed will offer various direct-to-device capabilities to extend connectivity to remote and underserved areas. Chris Ivory, chief commercial officer for AST SpaceMobile, assured customers of a seamless connectivity experience on their smartphones.
Rogers Communications Inc., a competitor, had introduced its own satellite-to-mobile service in collaboration with SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, a year ago. By combining its wireless network with Starlink’s low-earth orbit satellites, Rogers successfully connected cellphones in areas with poor coverage. Initially, Rogers provided text messaging capabilities for beta users and later added WhatsApp voice and video calling. Additional services like Google Maps are now accessible through Rogers Satellite, with plans to enable traditional cellphone calls, including emergency services, in the near future.