AST SpaceMobile has announced a private debt funding offering to raise $1 billion (€0.87bn) in the shape of Convertible Senior Notes.

AST has also confirmed that is in “advanced discussions” with Japanese company Rakuten regarding the preliminary selection of RAST Co., Ltd. as an indirect subsidy recipient for the Low Earth Orbit Satellite Infrastructure Development Project (J-LEO) for Securing National Self-Reliance, with a total expected value up to approximately $1 billion.

However, AST added: “The project supports the development of low-Earth orbit satellite communication infrastructure to realise direct satellite communication services utilizing low-orbit satellite constellations operated and managed within Japan. The subsidy award and related joint venture discussions are ongoing and there is no assurance that the joint venture will be finalised or that government financing will be secured.”

The statement also includes a strong hint that AST could consider buying a rocket launch company “to further vertically integrate its business”.

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Categories: Articles, Business, Funding, Satellite

Tags: AST SpaceMobile, LEO, satellite