The agreement, which extends through 2034, will enable Vodafone to offer space-based cellular broadband connectivity
Direct-to-cellular company AST SpaceMobile has locked down another mobile carrier deal, securing a long-term commercial agreement with European and African telecommunications company Vodafone Group. The pair said the agreement,...
AST SpaceMobile's five recently launched BlueBird satellites have been successfully unfurled in orbit, the company said in an update, and its preparations for commercial service are underway.
The five BlueBirds were launched in mid-September, and the unfolding of their large communications arrays happened ahead of...
AST SpaceMobile can now compete directly as a prime contractor for DoD prototype orders
A new contract with the U.S. government will enable AST SpaceMobile to compete for prototype demonstration projects under the country’s Space Development Agency (SDA)’s Hybrid Acquisition for proliferated Low-earth Orbit (HALO)...
The satellites will provide the basis for initial commercial NTN services for carriers including AT&T and Verizon
Satellite direct-to-cellular company AST SpaceMobile has confirmed the successful — and right-on-schedule — launch of its first five BlueBird satellites. The satellites are destined for low Earth orbit,...
Satellite direct-to-cellular company AST SpaceMobile has confirmed a target launch date of September 12 for its first five BlueBird satellites, destined for low Earth orbit, which will provide the basis for initial commercial non-terrestrial network (NTN) services for carriers including AT&T and Verizon.
The...
AST SpaceMobile provided a business update this week, as it preps for the launch of its first five satellites to support a commercial direct-to-cellular service. That long-anticipated launch is expected in the first half of September.
"We stand at a pivotal moment for AST...
NARB concurs with recommendation that AT&T 'discontinue or modify' claims about the availability of NTN coverage
The National Advertising Review Board (NARB) has agreed with the previous recommendation made by a panel of the BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division (NAD) that AT&T “discontinue or...
The AST SpaceMobile satellites will depart from a launch site in Cape Canaveral, Florida in September
Satellite direct-to-cellular company AST SpaceMobile has completed construction of its first five Bluebird low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and announced a shipment scheduled for the first week of August, followed by...
Johan Wibergh will also serve as chair of the network planning and spectrum committee at AST SpaceMobile
Former Vodafone Group CTO Johan Wibergh will join the board of directors at AST SpaceMobile, as the satellite company deepens its telco relationships in pursuit of expanding its space-based...
Verizon makes a $100 million commitment to AST
AST SpaceMobile has followed up a commercialization announcement with AT&T with the news today that the satellite company has struck a deal with Verizon to provide direct-to-cellular service to the carrier's customers and leverage Verizon's 850 MHz...
The new agreement for a commercial direct-to-cellular service is the latest step in the two companies' relationship
AT&T has officially inked an agreement with satellite direct-to-cellular company AST SpaceMobile, which extends through 2030, for a commercial direct-to-device service provided to unmodified cellular phones.
As part...
The commercial highlights an AT&T satellite-to-cellular service
In the most recent of a series of ongoing tests with AT&T, AST SpaceMobile streamed one of the carrier's commercials from space to a smartphone.
The two companies are conducting tests via AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 satellite, which is...
Rakuten Mobile said that this new offering could be launched in 2026
Japanese telco Rakuten Mobile announced plans to start provide satellite-to-mobile service in Japan in 2026 in partnership with AST SpaceMobile.
Rakuten Mobile said that the actual timing of the initiation of any such service...
New investors join Vodafone on backing 'cellular in space' network
Satellite direct-to-cellular company AST SpaceMobile has garnered two major new financial backers, adding AT&T and Google as strategic investors along with additional funding from existing partner Vodafone to support commercial roll-out of its technology.
The...
AT&T President of Network Chris Sambar says the "network is the killer app" and details 5G SA services
Killer application? We don't need your killer application. Or rather ... the network itself is the killer application, in that it enables multiple services and lets users...
Space-based cellular connectivity company AST SpaceMobile said that it has repeatedly achieved download speeds of more than 10 Mbps over LTE as it tests its LEO BlueWalker 3 satellite with unmodified, commercial smartphones on the ground.
AST SpaceMobile used leased AT&T spectrum and Nokia...
Direct-to-satellite service tests are planned for the remote mountains on Japan’s northernmost island
Rakuten Mobile announced this week that it has obtained preliminary licenses from Japanese regulators to begin testing direct-to-mobile satellite communication. The company said it is working with satellite maker AST SpaceMobile and its recently...
