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TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 Days after a failed launch, AST SpaceMobile has received permission to provide direct-to-smartphone broadband service on up to 248 satellites in the United States, with a complex plan to ramp up its deployment this year.<\/p>\n
The Federal Communications Commission approved the Texas-based company’s complete constellation on April 21, subject to conditions ranging from interference protection measures to astronomy and orbital debris mitigation obligations.<\/p>\n
The move paves the way for the service to be offered in the U.S. in partnership with AT&T and Verizon, which provide the cellular frequencies used by satellites to keep mobile subscribers connected outside of terrestrial coverage.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\nThe order also includes an arrangement for AST SpaceMobile to use public safety spectrum that AT&T operates under the government-backed FirstNet program to connect first responders in the United States.<\/p>\n
“Today marks an important step as we continue to expand our network and move closer to commercial service,” Abel Abellan, founder, chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are accelerating the deployment of our constellation, advancing integration with major mobile network operators, and preparing to bring seamless space-based cellular broadband directly to everyday smartphones, bringing connectivity closer to people everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regulatory developments<\/strong><\/p>\nThe FCC has approved 223 additional satellites beyond the five authorized in 2024, but has not cleared them for commercial service. Regulators have also approved direct-to-device (D2D) services outside the US, but they still require local approval.<\/p>\n
T-Mobile and SpaceX have partnered to launch Starlink Mobile D2D service across the United States in 2025, but have expressed concerns about potential interference and the risk of satellite collisions. The amateur radio community also warned of possible interference to the frequencies.<\/p>\n
But the FCC said AST SpaceMobile’s narrow beamforming and other technologies, along with regulatory safeguards such as limits on where it can operate and caps on signal strength, protect other spectrum users.<\/p>\n
The FCC said the operation “will expand national connectivity, advance U.S. leadership in space-based technologies, and promote efficient use of spectrum resources.”<\/p>\n
AST SpaceMobile must also continue to address astronomical concerns. In its 2024 order, the FCC required the company to make good faith efforts to reduce optical brightness. <\/p>\n
In its 2026 order, the FCC said AST SpaceMobile has reached a preliminary coordination agreement with the National Science Foundation, continues to consult with NASA on light pollution issues, and is working with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory on data transfer protocols.<\/p>\n
Start the launch<\/strong><\/p>\nAST SpaceMobile says it needs 45 to 60 BlueBird satellites to provide continuous coverage of the U.S. and other major markets.<\/p>\n
BlueBird-6 was launched on India’s LVM3 rocket in December and is the company’s first large block 2 spacecraft, which once deployed will carry the largest commercial communications array in low earth orbit (LEO) at approximately 223 square meters. Block 2 BlueBirds are approximately 3.5 times larger than BlueBirds 1-5, which launched together on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in 2024.<\/p>\n
Weighing 6,100 kilograms, the Block 2 spacecraft’s massive antenna is designed to support peak data rates of up to 120 megabits per second directly to standard smartphones, enabling voice, video, and other 5G services.<\/p>\n
Bluebird 7 was launched on April 19 on the third flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn, but its orbit was too low for recovery using the spacecraft’s onboard propulsion.<\/p>\n
Early data suggests that one of the upper stage BE-3U engines was unable to generate enough thrust to reach the target orbit during the second burn, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said in an April 20 update.<\/p>\n
“Blue Origin is leading the investigation of the anomaly, with oversight from the FAA, learning from the data and implementing the improvements needed to quickly return to service,” he said.<\/p>\n
Despite the failure, AST SpaceMobile said it still expects to launch on average every one to two months in 2026, reaching about 45 satellites in LEO by the end of the year, citing contracts with multiple launch providers.<\/p>\n
Currently in production through BlueBird-32, BlueBirds 8-10 are expected to be ready for shipment within about 30 days, according to AST SpaceMobile, which manufactures most of its satellites in-house.<\/p>\n
The company previously outlined a launch roster that also included SpaceX’s Falcon 9, but said New Glenn, which can deploy eight BlueBirds at once, would play a key role in the launch.<\/p>\n
AST SpaceMobile did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n
global competition<\/strong><\/p>\nThe UK recently approved a license change for AST SpaceMobile’s UK partner VodafoneThree and a proposal to amend the country’s D2D exemption rules to enable this service.<\/p>\n
Vodafone’s UK rival Virgin Media O2 launched on Starlink Mobile in February, marking the first commercial deployment of SpaceX’s D2D service in Europe.<\/p>\n
Dubai-based VEON also announced on April 22 a deal to offer Starlink Mobile in Bangladesh, pending regulatory approval, joining a growing list of carriers partnering with SpaceX across six continents.<\/p>\n
An Ookla report published on April 21 noted that D2D activity is increasing globally, but appears to have slowed recently in the United States and Canada.<\/p>\n
SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile are also pursuing supplementary spectrum to improve direct-to-consumer capabilities, as Amazon moves to acquire satellite carrier Globalstar to expand into emerging markets.<\/p>\n