Telus and AST SpaceMobile announced Monday they have successfully completed their first integration test between Telus’s wireless network and AST SpaceMobile’s satellite-based network, marking a milestone in their partnership to enable direct satellite-to-smartphone connectivity.
By combining AST SpaceMobile’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation and Telus’s wireless network, this space-based technology will allow Canadian customers to use eligible smartphones beyond the reach of traditional cell towers, helping to close existing coverage gaps and to enhance access to critical emergency services, Telus said in a press release.
“Connecting smartphones directly to satellites is opening up new possibilities for how Canadians stay connected,” Nazim Benhadid, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Telus, said in the press release. “This successful milestone with AST SpaceMobile is a major step forward in extending cellular coverage to places where service isn’t available today, reinforcing our commitment to bringing reliable service to more Canadians, no matter where they are.”
Telus said Monday the satellite-based cellular broadband technology is expected to be available to Telus customers within the next year. When Telus initially announced in March its partnership with AST SpaceMobile, the Vancouver-based telecom said it planned to deliver satellite-powered text messaging, voice calls and data to cellular customers starting in late 2026.
Once available, the space-based cellular broadband service will help Canadian smartphone users stay connected in remote areas of the country, including workers in natural resources, energy, construction and forestry in remote and northern communities, Telus said.
“This milestone demonstrates how mobile network operators can seamlessly extend their existing networks with space-based cellular broadband using everyday smartphones and reflects the strength and maturity of our technology,” Chris Ivory, chief commercial officer at Texas-based AST SpaceMobile said in a statement. “Together with TELUS, we are building a new layer of connectivity that enhances network reach and resilience, helping ensure Canadians stay connected in more places across the country.”
Bell is also partnering with AST SpaceMobile to bring direct-to-device satellite service to its customers. A launch date for Bell’s service has not been announced, although the Montreal-based telecom said a year ago it planned to deploy space-based direct-to-cell service in 2026. In July, Bell said it had completed construction of its first direct-to-device satellite ground station, located in Quebec, and construction of additional ground stations was underway in Ontario, Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Rogers launched its commercial Rogers Satellite service in December 2025, following a beta trial from July to October 2025 using SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. In April, Rogers expanded its satellite-to-mobile service to the United States, via a partnership with T-Mobile’s T-Satellite.
