Verizon, AT&T Test D2D Video Cal …

Verizon and AT&T successfully demonstrated video calls from Direct-to-Device (D2D), which with the five low Earth Orbit Bluebird satellites from AST-Spacemobile using AST-Spacemobile.

Video calls for common smartphones are the next step after the company received a special temporary authority (StA) from the Federal Communications Commission last month to test the satellite broadband network in the USA.

The AST Spacemobile uses the 850 MHz spectrum of Verizon and AT&T, which is compatible with standard smartphones, for a non-continuous direct-to-device service in the USA.

In total, the five birds offer around one hour of connectivity every day during two passes.

In 2023, AT&T previously made a video call with the satellite player in a test, which also included the Rakuten Group.

The AST -Spacemobile and the Vodafone Group claimed that they had carried out the world's first video call with a smartphone and satellites in one area without mobile reporting last month.

Vodafone Group, Verizon and AT&T are investors in AST Spacemobile.

The operators and the AST spacemobile are located in a race with SpaceX and T-Mobile US and Apple to offer D2D services such as text messages, voice calls and video applications in the USA.