Viasat says it has demonstrated a satellite-enabled voice call capability integrated into a BMW Group vehicle platform, as part of a research collaboration showcased during last week’s 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) Meeting Week in Munich.
The demonstration was integrated with the infotainment system of a BMW iX3 and was positioned as an early look at how non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity could extend voice and messaging services beyond the reach of traditional terrestrial mobile networks.
Viasat said the showcase built on an earlier demonstration involving eSIM capabilities from Cubic³. For the Munich trial, the company used technology including Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 and the Fraunhofer IIS NESC AI voice codec, with voice carried using the NB-IoT protocol over Viasat’s L-band satellite network.
According to the announcement, integrating the capability with BMW Group’s in-vehicle architecture allowed voice calls to be initiated and managed through the vehicle interface. The companies said this could support use cases such as emergency assistance and other safety-related applications in areas where cellular coverage is limited or unavailable.
“This demonstration reflects broader industry excitement to ensure consistent, resilient satellite capabilities for next-generation vehicles.” said Sandeep Moorthy, Senior Vice President, Advanced Non-Terrestrial Solutions at Viasat. “By bringing standards-based NTN to vehicles, we can integrate satellite voice and messaging and ultimately enable a future where drivers can remain connected — wherever the journey takes them.”
Viasat, BMW Group, Cubic3, and Fraunhofer IIS are members of 5GAA, which brings together technology and automotive firms working on connectivity solutions for vehicles and road users. The announcement listed potential satellite-enabled automotive applications including emergency voice and messaging, fleet management, and over-the-air updates in low-connectivity regions.
Viasat said the NB-IoT protocol is based on global 3GPP standards and that future 3GPP releases are expected to support 5G-New Radio (5G-NR) satellite services, potentially enabling higher-bandwidth applications and roaming between terrestrial and satellite networks. The company noted the showcased capability is not yet commercially available.
