Big news just dropped: Vi and AST SpaceMobile announce partnership for satellite connectivity in India! On June 18, 2025, Vi (also known as Vodafone Idea or just Vi) teamed up with AST SpaceMobile—ticker symbol ASTS on NASDAQ—to bring satellite internet access right to your phone, even in the most remote places.
What’s the deal?
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Vi is one of India’s top mobile network providers (alongside Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel).
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AST SpaceMobile builds special satellites (the SpaceMobile constellation) that let regular smartphones connect directly to space.
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Together, they’ll offer direct-to-device satellite broadband all over India—no need for fancy gear or special talks—just your regular 4G/5G phone
This means if you’re in a mountain village or deep jungle, you could still make voice/video calls, stream videos, and use the internet, just like anyone in the city.
Why is this partnership a big deal?
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Filling the gaps
Even though India has lots of 4G and growing 5G, remote regions still get left behind. Satellite backup fills those dead zones -
No special phones needed
ASTS’s satellites let your regular phone connect—no extra software or attachments. That’s huge for rural users who don’t want to upgrade their device -
Boost for Digital India
The Indian government wants everyone online. This collab helps in areas like remote learning, telemedicine, disaster response, and agriculture -
Cutting-edge space tech
ASTS recently made history by placing voice and video calls from space using normal smartphones ‘
What is AST SpaceMobile (ASTS)?
AST SpaceMobile is a Texas-based satellite company that went public on Nasdaq under the ticker ASTS
Here’s what makes them awesome:
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They build BlueWalker and BlueBird satellites—some of the biggest communications arrays ever in low-Earth orbit
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In 2023, they completed the first-ever 4G/5G voice and video call from space using unmodified phones
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They’ve landed deals with big names: AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone (in Europe, Africa), and now Vi in India.
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They plan to keep launching more satellites—like over 60 BlueBird satellites in 2025–2026 with Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket
How is ASTS doing on the stock market?
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The asts stock price jumped around 10% after the Vi deal was announced .
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In January, their stock “soared higher” (up over 9%) thanks to hype around space tech momentum.
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In 2024 they had a wild run—up 250%—after major satellite milestones .
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Now, reddit users joke that “AST S has grown 92% from its recent low few weeks ago… growth continued yesterday after they partnered with India’s leading telecom provider Vi.”
If you’re asking “what is asts stock?”, it’s the Nasdaq symbol ASTS representing AST SpaceMobile — a cool space-tech stock.
You can check asts share price, asts quote, asts price, or astsstock using finance apps. Earnings reports will come later as they start earning more from deals like this—search “asts earnings” for updates.
Why Vi is joining in
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They’re the third Indian telco (after Jio and Airtel) to get into satellite services
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For Vi, it’s a survival move: their idea cellular ltd stock price has been under pressure. This deal could inspire investors .
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They’ll use ASTS tech to boost their network in rural areas, hoping that helps vodafoneidea regain ground.
What experts are saying
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Chris Ivory, ASTS Chief Commercial Officer, says low-earth orbit satellites will “break down barriers to connectivity” and highlight how India is perfect for this tech demo
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Avneesh Khosla, CMO at Vi, said Vi wants “to connect every Indian” and sees satellite as a tool for that
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TelecomTV notes: this fits into a broader trend—telcos are also exploring AI agents and automation, while ASTS partnership helps Vi stay competitive.
What does this mean for users?
📱 For rural users:
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You can talk, video chat, surf the net even if you’re out in the countryside or up in the hills, basically like having cell service everywhere.
🆘 For emergency services:
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Anyone can use their regular phone to connect—even in floods, earthquakes, or wildfires.
🎓 For students:
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Online learning becomes easier when you’re not stuck without the internet.
🚜 For farmers:
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They can get real-time info on weather, prices, or digital banking.
A snapshot of satellite internet access news
Here’s a look at the current highlights in satellite-to-phone tech:
| Company | Progress |
|---|---|
| AST SpaceMobile | First space-based 4G/5G calls, several operator deals (AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, now Vi) |
| Starlink / SpaceX | Backed by Elon Musk, started satellite-to-phone for SMS; focusing on cellular devices now too . |
| Lynk Global | Competitor doing voice calls from satellites; recently partnered with SES . |
| Qualcomm/Iridium | Working on satellite messaging services through 5G NTN and NB-IoT . |
It’s a fast-moving field with major players competing.
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Future timeline & next steps
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Launch date TBD: The service hasn’t rolled out yet. ASTS and Vi didn’t give a concrete date .
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Earnings reports: Investors will watch for asts earnings to see if this partnership boosts revenue.
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Network integration: Vi has to connect ground networks with ASTS satellites in India.
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User trials: Watch for test user stories or pilot rollouts in villages or remote regions.
Final thoughts
The Vi-ASTS partnership is a game changer in India. It brings:
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🌍 Connectivity for the unconnected
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📞 Satellite internet access news that’s real, not just hype
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📈 A boost to asts stock price and hope for idea cellular stock price
We’re witnessing the start of a future where satellite internet isn’t just for astronauts—it’s for everyone. Even in places where cell towers can’t go, your phone could stay connected.
TL;DR (Short recap)
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What? Vi + ASTS teaming up for satellite-to-phone connectivity in India.
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Why? To bring internet and calls to remote areas using normal phones.
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When? Announced June 18–19, 2025; launch date not announced.
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Who benefits? Students, farmers, rescue teams, remote households.
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Stock side? ASTS stock jumped ~10%; investors watching asts earnings.
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Big picture? Satellite phone tech is taking off, and India is joining the race.
Let me know if you’d like me to add quotes or expand any part!
Sources:
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250618623278/en/Vi-and-AST-SpaceMobile-Announce-Partnership-for-Satellite-Connectivity
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/why-ast-spacemobile-stock-soared-higher-today
- https://www.telecomtv.com/content/access-evolution/what-s-up-with-vodafone-idea-telco-ai-agents-blue-planet-53257/