Google, AT&T and Vodafone have invested $155 million in AST SpaceMobile.

The company has said the funds will help it accelerate its mission to close the global connectivity gap by bringing 5G broadband service from space to billions of people worldwide.

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Alongside the $155 million strategic investment, the company also plans to draw an additional $51.5 million from its existing senior-secured credit facility.

The industry giants join the likes of Rakuten and Nokia who helped the company make the first-ever 5G connection for voice and data between an unmodified smartphone, alongside existing investor Vodafone.

Alongside the new investors American Tower and Bell Canada have also backed AST SpaceMobile as part owners, technology partners and customers.

AST SpaceMobile CEO and Chairman Abel Avellan said: “Our vision at AST SpaceMobile has always been to chart a course of collaborative innovation and integration with the world’s leading wireless companies, which is why we are so thrilled to be welcoming this new strategic investment from AT&T, Google and Vodafone.”

“Each new partnership signifies that market leaders worldwide have tremendous confidence in our vision and ability to ensure that the future of cellular broadband is borderless.”

Vodafone Group CEO, Margherita Della Valle, continued: “Vodafone’s investment and collaboration with AST SpaceMobile will help make our mobile connectivity services available everywhere for our customers across Europe and Africa.

“Customers in remote rural areas, on land or out at sea, will be able to benefit from fast and reliable 5G broadband directly to their existing smartphones without the need for specialist equipment.”

Alongside the funding, Vodafone and AT&T have also placed purchase orders for network equipment from AST SpaceMobile to support planned commercial service.

AT&T EVP and Head of Network, Chris Sambar, concluded: “We’re excited to deepen our relationship with this investment as we continue to drive a first-of-its-kind innovation forward and work together to achieve this shared vision of space-based connectivity for consumers, businesses and first responders all around the globe.”