British Mobile Company Debuts First European Satellite Phone Service

Virgin Media O2 has become the first European mobile carrier to offer satellite connectivity for regular smartphones. The service allows texting and app usage in areas without cell tower coverage for about $4 monthly.

A British telecommunications company made history Thursday by introducing the continent’s first satellite-based mobile phone service that works with standard smartphones.

Virgin Media O2, jointly owned by Telefonica and Liberty Global, unveiled its O2 Satellite service that enables text messaging, WhatsApp communication, and Google Maps access in remote areas lacking traditional cell tower coverage. The monthly subscription costs three British pounds, equivalent to approximately $4.06.

The innovative service utilizes SpaceX’s Starlink satellite constellation to expand the company’s coverage across Britain from 89% to 95% of the country’s territory.

Phones equipped with compatible technology will seamlessly switch to satellite connections when conventional cellular networks are unavailable, according to company officials. Users can access messaging platforms including WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, plus weather forecasts and location services.

Initially, the satellite connectivity will function on Samsung’s newest smartphone models, providing continuous communication for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts engaged in hiking, mountain climbing, and aquatic activities.

The European launch follows T-Mobile’s introduction of comparable satellite-to-cellular technology in the United States last July, priced at $10 monthly.

Virgin Media O2 CEO Lutz Schuler described the launch as a pivotal advancement for Britain’s mobile communication infrastructure.

“By launching O2 Satellite, we’ve become the first operator in Europe to launch a space-based mobile data service that, overnight, has brought new mobile coverage to an area around two-thirds the size of Wales for the first time,” he said.

Competitor Vodafone achieved a milestone in January by completing the first satellite video call from an area without ground-based mobile coverage using a standard smartphone. The company intends to roll out comprehensive satellite-to-mobile services through its partnership with AST SpaceMobile, though no launch timeline has been announced.