AST SpaceMobile, together with telco giant AT&T, is to start beta-tests of its Direct-to-Cellular satellite service over the US. A statement talked of using “real smartphones” in the tests and using the first five AST satellites already in orbit.

AST is due to launch a much larger satellite in a week’s time from an Indian rocket site and over the next quarter will use rockets from SpaceX and Blue Origin to launch more satellites.

The beta-tests will use frequencies in the 700-850 MHz bands.

Meanwhile, rival SpaceX’s Starlink has filed a trademark application for ‘Starlink Mobile’, considered to be a potentially global service from Elon Musk.

Other posts by :

1. Bank: Opportunities for SES and Eutelsat
2. Bank: SES outperforming
3. AST SpaceMobile confirms 2026 launch schedule
4. AST SpaceMobile: “Good for indoor reception”
5. EchoStar booms on SpaceX holding
6. Norway wants a satellite constellation
7. Crossroads backs AST SpaceMobile
8. FCC examines SpaceX’s 15,000 sat-constellation plan
9. EchoStar: “Severe uncertainty” led to spectrum sales

Categories: Articles, Broadband, Satellite

Tags: AST SpaceMobile, elon musk, spacex, starlink, usa