UK’s first video call via satellite made from Welsh mountain


Vodafone has implemented what she says is the first video phone call in the United Kingdom.
The company says that the invitation – made from a mountain in CEREDIGION, West Wales – is part of the process of adding satellite communication to its phone network in the United Kingdom by the end of the year, and across Europe in 2026.
Vodafone Margarita Della Valley says it can eliminate “not stains” – places without a mobile sign – which can find Offes regulator estimates in 9 % of the UK.
However, experts say organizational obstacles will need to be cleared and fired many satellites to take off.
Astronomers warn that the increasing number of satellites in orbit makes it difficult to study the space.
How do you work?
Satellite connectivity allows regular phones from working normally with a full internet access when there is no coverage.
Several iPhone and Android devices already have an emergency satellite connection, but they are currently dependent on text messages.
Vodafone says she has now gone further with a video call between the company’s engineer in a place other than Wales, and Ms. Della Valley.
“It is a truly important moment because we open the door to global communication and link people in the United Kingdom, wherever they are,” said Ms. Della Valley.
The satellites were armed with “antennas in the sky”, but they said that they would not replace the mast and the current towers – instead providing an additional layer of coverage.
The company says that phone users will not need any additional equipment, as it says, because it expands the service.
It is not yet known what the costs will be for customers.
A partnership with a Satial company called AST Spacemobile, which has a relatively few satellite in orbit – was carefully carefully at the right one in the right place, at the right time.
“The challenges are in fact the fact that it is a relatively new Satial company,” said Luk Peres, a CCS Insight analyst, said.
“They got a few satellites in the air as of last year, but they really need to build a full constellation to be able to provide consistent coverage all the time.”
Mr. Pears said that the issue of how to organize these satellite services still needs a solution – which also affects the competitors’ service providers, Like Elon Musk’s Starlink.
Offcom has already said it was planning to consult on the matter in “early 2025”.
Is there space in space?
The possibility of more low -Earth moons needed for mobile communications by astronomers has been criticized.
“The International Astronomy Society is interested in the increasing number of satellites in the low Earth’s orbit, which can pollute astronomical images by leaving bright light lines in it,” said the BBC.
Others raised similar concerns, as astronomical physicist Dr. Megan Argo says that the increase in satellite “makes it increasingly difficult to study the universe outside Jona.”
“In addition to being visually bright, the satellites are relatively warm, so they shine in infrared, and transfer radio signals to the ground that increasingly block our view of the universe across several areas of the electromagnetic spectrum,” she told the BBC.
She said that there is a decisive result of this – which makes it difficult to discover asteroids.
She said: “The discovery of asteroids that can one day affect that the Earth is an important task, but it has become more difficult as more and more satellites are launched.”
But astronaut Tim Beck – who joined Vodafone for the video call – said that there was a “big room” in space for more satellites.
“What we need to think about in the future, although the space is very useful for us, is how we manage and organize the number of satellites that go up there, how we return them safely or take them away from the planet, and how we protect the space environment while using it for the benefit of everyone on Earth.” .