ViaSat (VSAT) has demonstrated satellite-enabled voice calling integrated into a BMW Group vehicle in Germany, the company said Thursday.
The demonstration used a BMW iX3 with voice calls initiated and managed directly through the vehicle's infotainment system, Viasat said.
The technology is intended to extend voice and messaging connectivity to areas without cellular coverage.
The system combined its L-band satellite network with Qualcomm Technologies (QCOM) Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2, Cubic3's eSIM technology and Fraunhofer IIS' AI voice codec using the NB-IoT communications protocol, it said.