Viasat and Cubic³ will demonstrate satellite-enabled voice calls for connected vehicles over a 3GPP-compliant non-terrestrial network (NTN) at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona. The live showcase, conducted in association with Qualcomm Technologies and Fraunhofer IIS, highlights how software-defined vehicles (SDVs) can maintain voice connectivity when terrestrial cellular coverage becomes unavailable.
The demonstration features a voice call routed over Viasat’s satellite network, integrated with Cubic³’s global connectivity management platform (CMP) and hybrid eSIM technology. The system runs on Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 platform and uses the NESC voice codec from Fraunhofer IIS, with additional technical support from Amarisoft. The companies aim to validate that standards-based satellite and cellular technologies can interoperate within a 3GPP framework to deliver reliable voice services beyond the reach of ground-based networks.
The initiative builds on a partnership announced in June 2025 between Viasat and Cubic³ to combine satellite and terrestrial connectivity for global vehicle communications. Cubic³ plans to collaborate with Viasat on future 5G-NR satellite services, including video streaming and seamless voice support for automotive applications. These capabilities are expected to leverage Equatys, a joint entity founded by Viasat and Space42 to enable integrated 5G connectivity across satellite and terrestrial networks.
- Live demonstration of satellite-based voice call over a 3GPP-compliant NTN for vehicles
- Integration of Viasat satellite network with Cubic³ CMP and hybrid eSIM
- Powered by Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 and Fraunhofer IIS NESC voice codec
- Technical support from Amarisoft
- Foundation for future 5G-NR satellite services including video and enhanced voice
- Part of broader collaboration through Equatys, a joint venture between Viasat and Space42
“Today marks the point where satellite connectivity moves from concept to reality for vehicles,” said Sandeep Moorthy, Senior Vice President, Advanced Non-Terrestrial Solutions at Viasat. “Together with our partners, we’re demonstrating that reliable voice connectivity for safety and emergency use can be delivered globally, wherever drivers travel. We are well positioned to bring the benefits of satellite connectivity at scale to the automotive industry.”
🌐 Analysis: The demonstration reflects growing industry focus on integrating NTN capabilities into mainstream 3GPP automotive platforms, particularly as 5G-Advanced and early 6G discussions emphasize ubiquitous coverage. Following Viasat’s 2023 acquisition of Inmarsat and ongoing collaboration with Cubic³, the company continues to align satellite assets with automotive-grade connectivity frameworks, while chipset vendors such as Qualcomm embed NTN support directly into modem platforms to standardize hybrid satellite-terrestrial architectures.
