Vodafone plans to collaborate with Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a low Earth orbit satellite constellation, to expand the coverage of its 4G and 5G networks in Europe and Africa. The British mobile operator intends to use Project Kuiper’s high-bandwidth, low-latency satellites to connect mobile base stations in remote areas to its core networks, eliminating the need for fiber-based or fixed wireless links.
Amazon is set to test two prototype satellites in the upcoming months before starting the deployment of production satellites in 2024 for its network. This network will compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink, OneWeb, and other similar projects.
Vodafone and Amazon have announced their plans to bring Project Kuiper’s high-speed broadband services to under-served communities worldwide. They also intend to offer services to businesses, such as back-up connections. Dave Limp, Amazon’s senior vice president for devices and services, stated that this partnership would enable customers to “get the most value from expanded connectivity,” particularly in areas like residential broadband, agriculture, education, healthcare, transportation, and financial services.
The collaboration with Project Kuiper complements Vodafone’s ongoing partnership with AST SpaceMobile to develop a space-based mobile network. This network aims to directly connect with standard mobile phones without the need for specialized equipment.
Furthermore, Telefonica recently announced its collaboration with Starlink to provide internet connections to rural and remote customers. These partnerships reflect the growing trend of telecommunications companies partnering with satellite networks to bridge the digital divide and provide internet access to underserved areas.
Overall, Vodafone and Amazon’s partnership with Project Kuiper aims to extend the reach of high-speed broadband services and improve connectivity for communities and businesses worldwide. This collaboration underscores the significance of satellite networks in expanding global internet access.
Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Alexander Smith
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
