No Towers, No Cables: How ISRO’s Latest Launch Could Bring Mobile Connectivity to the World’s Most Remote Places |
A crisp December morning at Sriharikota. The ground shakes as two massive boosters ignite, sending clouds of smoke spiralling into the sky. Slowly, steadily, India’s 'Bahubali' rocket — LVM3‑M6 — rises, carrying a giant 6,100‑kg satellite aboard.
In just under 15 minutes, the satellite is soaring in space, marking the heaviest payload ever launched by ISRO’s LVM3. Cheers erupt from the launch control room as the mission enters history.
Earlier today, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully put the BlueBird Block‑2 satellite into low Earth orbit for AST SpaceMobile, a US-based space tech company.
The satellite will now start its mission to beam mobile network signals directly to smartphones, even in remote corners of the world. This launch wasn’t just a technical triumph but a statement of India’s growing prowess in heavy-lift commercial launches and global space collaboration.
Think of BlueBird Block-2 as a space-based cellular tower, but way bigger and more advanced. Instead of relying only on Earth-based towers and fibre cables, this satellite will help beam mobile........