Viasat Demonstrates Satellite Voice Calling Integrated into BMW Vehicle
Viasat has demonstrated what it says is the first satellite-enabled voice call fully integrated into a BMW Group vehicle, marking another step towards bringing standards-based non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity into the automotive sector.
The demonstration, held during the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) Meeting Week in Munich, integrated satellite voice calling directly into the infotainment system of a BMW iX3. The trial combined Viasat's L-band satellite network with Qualcomm's Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 platform, the Fraunhofer IIS NESC AI voice codec and NB-IoT communications based on 3GPP standards.
Unlike previous demonstrations using external hardware, the capability was managed through the vehicle's native interface, highlighting how future connected vehicles could maintain voice and messaging services beyond the reach of terrestrial mobile networks.
The technology is aimed at improving connectivity for applications such as emergency assistance, fleet management and over-the-air software updates in remote or underserved areas. While the current demonstration uses NB-IoT for lower-bandwidth services such as voice and messaging, future 5G NR NTN standards are expected to support higher-capacity applications including video and seamless roaming between terrestrial and satellite networks.
The demonstration builds on Viasat's ongoing work with automotive partners to integrate satellite connectivity into next-generation vehicles, as the industry moves towards always-connected transport regardless of terrestrial network availability.