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

Vodafone has carried out what it says is the UK’s first satellite-enabled smartphone video call.

The company says the call – made from a mountain in Ceredigion, west Wales – is part of the process of adding satellite connectivity to its UK phone network by the end of the year, and across Europe in 2026.

Vodafone boss Margherita Della Valle says it could eliminate “not spots” – places without mobile signal – which regulator Ofcom estimates can be found in 9% of the UK.

However, experts say regulatory hurdles will need to be cleared and many more satellites launched for the service to take off.

And astronomers warn the increasing number of satellites in orbit is making it harder to study space.