UK’s first smartphone video call through a satellite made of Welsh Mountain
VodafoneVodafone has done what it says that the UK’s first satellite-able smartphone is a video call.
The company says that the call -Ceredigian, built from a mountain in West Wales – is part of the process of adding satellite connectivity to its UK phone network by the end of the year and in 2026 across Europe in Europe.
Vodafone boss Margerita Dela Valle says that it can eliminate places without “spots” – mobile signals – which can be found in 9% of the UK regulator of Com’s estimates.
However, experts say that regulatory obstacles will need to be cleaned and launched to launch several more satellites for service.
And astronomers warned that it is making it difficult to study space for the increasing number of satellites in the classroom.
How does this work?
Satellite connectivity enables ordinary phones to operate normally with full internet access when there is no coverage otherwise.
Many iPhones and Android devices already have an emergency satellite connectivity, but it is currently a text message based.
Vodafone says it has now moved forward with a video call with a video call between a company engineer in West Wales and Ms. Dela Valley.
“This is really an important moment because we are opening the door to universal connectivity to connect people in Britain, wherever they are,” said Ms. Dela Valle.
He compared the satellites to “antennas in the sky”, but said they would not replace the existing mast and towers – instead provide an additional layer of coverage.
Phone users will not require any additional equipment, the firm says, as it expands the service.
It is not yet known what will cost for customers.
It has partnered with a satellite company called AST Spasmobile, with relatively low satellites in the orbit – Monday’s test had to give careful time around one at the right place at the right place.
Luke Peirs, from the CCS Insight of analysts, said, “There are really facts that it is a relatively new satellite company.”
“They have found some satellites in the air like last year, but they need to be able to build a full constellation to be able to actually offer coverage at all times.”
Mr. Pierce said that how such satellite services will be regulated, it still needs to be resolved – something that also affects rival providers, Such as Elon Musk’s Starlink,
Ofcom has previously stated that it plans to consult the case “in early 2025”.
Is there a place in space?
The more likely possibility of less probability of low earth satellites required for mobile communication is done by astronomers.
IAU Center for the Dark Sky told the BBC, “The International Astronomy Community is concerned with the rapidly increasing number of satellites in the lowest Earth’s orbit, which can contaminate the astronomical images except bright light lines in them.”
Other people have raised similar concerns, Astrophysicist Dr. Megan Argo said that an increase in satellites is “difficult to study the universe outside our own environment”.
He told the BBC, “Along with being visually bright, satellites are relatively warm, which shine in infrared, and transmit radio signals on Earth that rapidly about the universe in many areas of electromagnetic spectrum Are unclear our views. “
And he said that it was an important result – it became difficult to spot the asteroids.
He said, “Possibly spotted asteroids that can affect a day, it is important work on Earth, but more and more satellites are launched,” she said.
But astronaut Tim Peak – who joined Vodafone for video calls – said that there were “many rooms” in space for more satellites.
“What we need to think in the future, space is becoming so useful for us, it is that we manage and regulate the number of satellites going there, how we safely bring them back or from the planet Take away, and how we protect the space atmosphere using it for everyone’s benefits on earth, “he said.
