Wed Dec 24 03:40:00 UTC 2025: Summary:

ISRO launched the BlueBird Block-2 satellite, a 6100 kg satellite designed to provide direct 4G/5G connectivity to standard smartphones from space. Launched via the LVM3-M6 rocket, the satellite features a massive 223 square meter phased-array antenna, enabling it to act as a space-based mobile tower, reaching areas lacking terrestrial infrastructure. This eliminates the need for specialized satellite phones and offers seamless voice, video, messaging, and internet services. This mission demonstrates ISRO’s capabilities in the global telecom industry and sets the stage for expanded mobile coverage in remote and disaster-affected regions.

News Article:

ISRO Launches BlueBird Block-2 Satellite, Promises Mobile Connectivity from Space

Sriharikota, India – In a groundbreaking mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the BlueBird Block-2 satellite on December 24th, aiming to revolutionize mobile connectivity across the globe. The satellite, launched via ISRO’s powerful LVM3-M6 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, is designed to provide direct 4G and 5G services to standard smartphones, even in areas lacking traditional mobile towers.

Weighing in at 6100 kg, BlueBird Block-2 is the heaviest LEO satellite ISRO has launched with the LVM3 rocket. The key to this capability lies in its massive 223 square meter phased-array antenna, the largest of its kind in low Earth orbit. This allows the satellite to function as a space-based mobile tower, capturing even the weakest signals from standard mobile phones.

“This is a game-changer for connectivity,” stated ISRO officials. “BlueBird Block-2 will bring mobile services to remote areas like mountains, dense forests, deserts, and disaster-stricken zones, offering uninterrupted voice calls, video calls, messaging, and internet access without the need for specialized equipment.”

Unlike traditional satellite communication requiring dedicated terminals, BlueBird Block-2 integrates seamlessly with existing mobile networks. When a user moves out of terrestrial network range, their phone automatically connects to the satellite, which then relays the signal to a ground gateway station before routing it through the user’s mobile operator’s network.

The mission also demonstrates ISRO’s emergence as a key player in the commercial space sector, establishing India as a reliable launch partner for the global telecom industry. As the BlueBird constellation expands, future satellites will enable seamless handover between satellites, ensuring continuous connectivity.

Following its launch, the satellite’s antenna will be deployed and tested, followed by integration with AST SpaceMobile’s global network. With further satellite deployments and regulatory approvals, ISRO’s BlueBird Block-2 is poised to transform mobile communication and bring connectivity to previously unreachable areas, revolutionizing mobile experience across the world.

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