08:12 AM EST, 12/09/2024 (MT Newswires) -- AST SpaceMobile ( ASTS ) and Vodafone Group ( VOD ) said Monday they have entered into a long-term commercial agreement lasting through 2034 to enhance global broadband connectivity.

Under the deal, the companies said that Vodafone will offer space-based cellular broadband services in its home markets and to other operators through its Partner Markets program.

The companies also said that Vodafone has ordered its first Block 1 BlueBird gateway, marking a key step in the rollout of AST SpaceMobile's ( ASTS ) global network.

The new technology will enable users outside traditional cellular coverage areas to connect directly to AST SpaceMobile's ( ASTS ) satellites in low Earth orbit, with data routed through the gateways and then delivered via Vodafone's network to users' devices, allowing access to apps and the internet, the companies said.