AST SpaceMobile is a publicly traded satellite designer and manufacturer headquartered in Midland, Texas, focused on building a space-based cellular broadband network. Their SpaceMobile network aims to connect directly to standard, unmodified smartphones via their constellation of low Earth orbit satellites, like the BlueBird series. AST SpaceMobile partners with mobile network operators like AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone to expand cellular coverage and provide connectivity in underserved areas, also securing contracts with the U.S. government for secure and reliable connectivity.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
AST SpaceMobile plans launches every one to two months on average as it builds a broadband network from space.
AST SpaceMobile previously held an experimental license, approval for non-terrestrial bands, and special temporal authority for testing in the United States.
AST SpaceMobile's direct-to-device constellation will consist of 248 satellites.
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket failed to deliver an AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellite to the correct orbit.
The FCC granted AST SpaceMobile commercial authorization to provide direct-to-device services using spectrum from its partner mobile network operators.
Each AST SpaceMobile satellite in the constellation will carry a 223-square-meter array.
The FCC approved AST SpaceMobile on April 21 to deploy a constellation of 248 satellites and provide supplemental coverage from space.
AST SpaceMobile is targeting 45 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.
AST SpaceMobile expects to recover the costs of the failed Blue Origin launch in an insurance claim.
AST SpaceMobile has commercial agreements with Verizon and AT&T.
AST SpaceMobile will be able to provide direct-to-device services in the United States using low-band spectrum from 700 MHz and 800 MHz through coordination with Verizon, AT&T, and FirstNet.
The BlueBird satellite lost in the New Glenn mission was AST SpaceMobile's second satellite launch.
BlueBird 7 would have been the eighth satellite in AST SpaceMobile's low-Earth-orbit constellation.
AST SpaceMobile shares closed Monday at $81, down 5.3% for the session.
AST SpaceMobile's stock rose more than 265% over the previous 12 months before the setback.
AST SpaceMobile’s Supplemental Coverage from Space service is designed to use terrestrial mobile frequencies to bridge coverage gaps in the United States.
On April 21, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission granted AST & Science, LLC, doing business as AST SpaceMobile, authority to launch and operate a constellation of 248 non-geostationary orbit satellites.
AST SpaceMobile has BlueBird 8, BlueBird 9, and BlueBird 10 ready for launch within the next 30 days.
The FCC grant gave AST SpaceMobile the first major commercial authorization for Supplemental Coverage from Space.
Hiroshi Mikitani sold approximately 1.69 million AST SpaceMobile shares.