Satellite Connect Europe Hits the Ground Running at MWC26 with Trio of Operator Deals
Just days after formally launching, Satellite Connect Europe has landed at MWC Barcelona with a point to prove, announcing three separate partnerships across Ireland, the UK and Switzerland aimed at bringing direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity to mainstream mobile users.
The flurry of activity is notable because the company, created as a Vodafone/AST SpaceMobile joint venture and only officially launching last week, is already moving from strategy to execution, with trials, demonstrations and live customer testing lined up across Europe.
Ireland prepares for a first satellite mobile broadband call
In Ireland, Vodafone Ireland is working with Satellite Connect Europe on what is expected to be the country’s first direct-to-device satellite mobile broadband video call to a standard smartphone.
Testing is already under way following the award of Ireland’s first test and trial licence. The goal is seamless switching between terrestrial 4G/5G networks and satellites so that phones automatically stay connected when ground coverage disappears. This is particularly valuable for rural communities and emergency services during severe weather events.
The partnership also positions Ireland within the wider push for a harmonised European regulatory framework for satellite D2D services.
The UK’s VodafoneThree targets customer trials this summer
In the UK, newly merged operator VodafoneThree has signed a commercial agreement with Satellite Connect Europe aimed at removing mobile not-spots across the country.
Customer trials are planned for summer 2026 and will test satellite connectivity capable of supporting data, voice and SMS on standard smartphones, extending coverage into remote and hard-to-reach areas.
The move signals a shift from lab validation toward real user testing, with the operator framing satellite as an extension of its terrestrial network rather than a separate service.
Sunrise technical integration work begins in Switzerland
Swiss operator Sunrise has begun a demonstration programme focused on technical integration, evaluating how satellite connectivity can work alongside its existing 4G and 5G networks.
Unlike the UK’s customer-focused trials, the Sunrise initiative is more exploratory, analysing how smartphones can transition between terrestrial and satellite signals and how D2D can improve continuity of service across Switzerland’s challenging geography.
Importantly, the project emphasizes European jurisdiction over operations and data handling, a recurring theme in Satellite Connect Europe’s positioning.
Big picture: Switzerland becomes a technical showcase for network interoperability and resilience rather than a commercial pilot (for now).
What stands out most from this flurry of announcements is the speed.
Satellite Connect Europe only formally launched at the end of February 2026, and yet within days it has announced:
A first-of-its-kind national demonstration in Ireland
Live customer trials planned in the UK
Technical integration work underway in Switzerland
Together, these announcements show a clear strategy: partner with major mobile operators first, then embed satellite as a transparent extension of existing networks rather than forcing users onto separate devices or plans.