BARCELONA - Viasat and Cubic³, working with Qualcomm Technologies and Fraunhofer IIS, demonstrated satellite-enabled voice calling for connected vehicles at Mobile World Congress 2026 today. The demonstration comes as Viasat shares trade near their 52-week high of $49.68, with the stock surging 453% over the past year to a current price of $47.90, giving the satellite communications company a market capitalization of $6.51 billion.
The demonstration showcased voice calls conducted over a 3GPP-compliant non-terrestrial satellite network, enabling vehicles to maintain voice connectivity when cellular networks are unavailable. The technology is designed to support driver safety and emergency access beyond terrestrial network coverage.
The demonstration integrated Viasat's satellite network, Cubic³'s connectivity management platform and hybrid eSIM, Qualcomm Technologies' Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF Gen 2 platform, and the NESC voice codec from Fraunhofer IIS, with technical support from Amarisoft.
The collaboration builds on a partnership announced by Viasat and Cubic³ in June 2025 to combine satellite and terrestrial connectivity for global vehicle communications. Cubic³ plans to work with Viasat to bring future 5G-NR satellite services to the automotive market, according to a press release statement.
While Viasat posted a loss of $2.55 per share over the last twelve months, analysts forecast the company will return to profitability this year with projected earnings of $1.38 per share. According to InvestingPro analysis, the stock currently appears overvalued relative to its Fair Value estimate. Investors can access 9 additional ProTips and comprehensive financial health metrics, including Viasat's "GOOD" overall score of 2.77, through the platform's detailed Pro Research Report.
These future applications would use Equatys, a jointly held entity being established by Viasat and Space42. Equatys is designed to enable 5G connectivity across satellite and terrestrial networks.
"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.
Cubic³ connects more than 27 million vehicles across over 200 countries and territories, serving 12 of the top 20 automotive groups. The company provides connectivity solutions for automotive, agricultural and transport manufacturers.
"As vehicles become increasingly software-defined, connectivity must be intelligent and truly global," said André Schlufter, Director of Connectivity Innovation at Cubic³.
Viasat, Cubic³, and Qualcomm Technologies are members of the 5GAA (5G Automotive Association). The demonstration took place at Hall 6, Booth 6A20 at Mobile World Congress Barcelona.
In other recent news, ViaSat Inc. reported its fiscal third-quarter 2026 earnings, showcasing a notable earnings per share (EPS) of $0.79, which significantly surpassed the forecasted -$0.46. This represents a substantial 271.74% earnings beat. However, the company's revenue fell slightly short of expectations, coming in at $1.16 billion compared to the anticipated $1.17 billion. Despite the impressive EPS results, the revenue miss has raised concerns among investors about the company's future guidance. These developments highlight the mixed reactions from the market, focusing on the balance between earnings performance and revenue expectations.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor.