Viasat and Cubic³, in association with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Fraunhofer IIS, have announced a live demonstration of satellite-enabled voice calls over a 3GPP-compliant non-terrestrial network (NTN) for connected vehicles at Mobile World Congress 2026. The demonstration featured a voice call conducted over satellite, enabling vehicles to maintain voice connectivity in areas where cellular coverage is limited or unavailable. The milestone validates that voice communications are critical for driver safety & emergency access and can operate reliably beyond terrestrial network reach.
The demo integrates multiple technologies to enable always-on connectivity within modern software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The setup includes Viasat’s satellite network, Cubic³’s global Connectivity Management Platform (CMP) with hybrid eSIM capability, Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon® Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 platform, and the NESC voice codec from Fraunhofer IIS, with additional technical support provided by Amarisoft.
By extending voice services beyond cellular coverage, the solution enables automakers to maintain connectivity for emergency assistance and safety-critical applications irrespective of location. The demonstration also establishes groundwork for future NTN-enabled vehicle deployments as demand for advanced data services continues to grow.
The collaboration builds on the partnership announced by Viasat and Cubic³ in June 2025, combining satellite and terrestrial connectivity to support global vehicle communications. Cubic³ also plans to work with Viasat to introduce future 5G NR satellite services, including video streaming and seamless voice communication, to the automotive sector. Future applications are expected to leverage Equatys, a jointly held entity being established by Viasat and Space42, designed to enable seamless 5G connectivity across satellite and terrestrial networks at a global scale.
Viasat continues to expand satellite connectivity for mobility applications, supporting continuous vehicle connectivity across geographies. Cubic³ provides a global connectivity platform integrating cellular and satellite networks for automotive, agricultural, and transport OEMs. The company currently connects more than 27 million vehicles across over 200 countries and territories, supporting 12 of the top 20 automotive groups in deploying connected services.
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