AST Space Mobile has just one satellite currently in orbit which itself something of a test prototype for a planned global satellite-based ‘direct-to-cellular’ service. AST’s follow-up BlueWalker 3 satellites are expected to be ready for launch in batches of five craft starting in July or August (according to the company) and continuing in batches throughout […]

AST SpaceMobile has claimed it could be a rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink. At the moment it has just one test-satellite in orbit but has successfully trialled ‘direct-to-smartphone’ calls using the craft. AT&T has signed a multi-year commercial contract with AST. May 15th saw the operator release its Q1 numbers, and confirm the AT&T contract […]

AST SpaceMobile, already suffering criticism for multiple delays and alleged misleading statements to shareholders, has been hit with Class Actions. The actions will be before the Western District of Texas in the US District Court and before Judge David Counts. AST SpaceMobile is based at Midland, Texas. AST SpaceMobile, together with its subsidiaries, develops and […]

AST SpaceMobile is being rebranded to AST Networks. That was the one positive slice of news to emerge from its end-of-year results. The company’s overall news didn’t help confidence with investors and its share price crashed 13.6 per cent on April 1st and another 24 per cent on April 2nd. AST undoubtedly has a great […]

AST SpaceMobile wants to provide the planet’s smartphone owners with satellite-delivered 5G connectivity. The Texas-based company already has a massive prototype satellite in orbit, launched in September 2022, and claims that its technology is the world’s “first and only” global cellular broadband network and with 3,100 patents in place. But it has hit problems with […]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has published its proposed framework which could allow satellite operators to use spectrum from terrestrial cellular businesses for their smartphone connections, and when beyond the reach of conventional mobile towers. Jessica Rosenworcel, FCC chair, says the final draft of rules have been sent to the regulator’s other four Commissioners that, […]

Fledgling satellite operator AST SpaceMobile has signed up Japanese telco Rakuten to its planned direct-to-smartphone service. Rakuten says it will deploy AST services starting in 2026. Rakuten joins Vodafone, AT&T and Google to AST SpaceMobile’s growing club of telcos promising a satellite-based service. Other members of the club include Bell Canada and American Tower and […]

AST SpaceMobile wants to cover the planet with satellite signals that supply ‘direct-to-cellphone’ connectivity. It already has one satellite in orbit (BlueWalker 3) but says its next craft will be “100 times more powerful” in terms of processing bandwidth. AST recently struck agreements with AT&T, Vodafone and Google and says it has terrestrial links with […]

Officials from satellite company AST SpaceMobile met with FCC officials on December 14th 2023 over a potential problem with its frequency registrations. AST is building a super-constellation of satellites with the intention of supply a ‘direct-to-smartphone’ service. AT&T, Vodafone and Google are investors in the company. AST is using Papua New Guinea (PNG) as its […]

The US Rural Wireless Association (RWA) on February 1st wrote to FCC Jessica Rosenworcel about AST SpaceMobile and the satellite operator’s commitment to provide “supplemental coverage from space” at a minimum of 35 Mb/s download (and just 3 Mb/s upload) for broadband. AST is also looking to receive cash from the US government’s 5G Fund […]