INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Mobile Technology
AST SpaceMobile ready to maximize the potential of its growing in-orbit network
Company announces agreement for long-term access to up to 45 MHz of premium lower mid-band spectrum in the US for directto-device satellite applications .
AST SpaceMobile , the company building the first and only spacebased cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones , designed for both commercial and government applications , has announced an agreement for long-term access to up to 45 MHz of lower mid-band spectrum in the US for direct-to-device satellite applications .
This agreement , when consummated , will add additional capabilities to AST SpaceMobile ’ s technology and spacebased network , based on the largest-ever communications arrays deployed in low Earth orbit , pairing existing plans for the continental US on low-band spectrum , which offers superior penetration and coverage characteristics , with access to up to 45 MHz of lower mid-band spectrum , the largest available block of high-quality nationwide spectrum in the US . on our goal of peak data transmission speeds up to 120 Mbps – together with our mobile network operator partners we ’ re enabling a true broadband experience directly from space to everyday smartphones .”
In September 2024 , AST SpaceMobile launched its first five commercial BlueBird satellites into low Earth orbit , each the largest-ever commercial communications arrays deployed into low Earth orbit , reaching approximately 700 square feet in size .
These initial satellites will offer non-continuous cellular broadband service across the United States and in select markets globally and will target approximately 100 % nationwide coverage from space with over 5,600 coverage cells in the United States .
The next-generation Block 2 BlueBirds featuring up to 2,400 square-foot communications arrays , are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird satellites in orbit , enabling peak data transmission speeds of up to 120 Mbps , supporting voice , full data , and video applications , and other native cellular capabilities .
During 2024 , AST SpaceMobile secured additional strategic investment from AT & T , Verizon , Google and Vodafone , and several contract awards with the United States Government , directly and through prime contractors .
The company has agreements with more than 45 mobile network operators globally , which have over approximately 2.8 billion existing subscribers total , including Vodafone Group , AT & T , Verizon , Rakuten Mobile , Bell Canada , Orange , Telefonica , TIM , Saudi Telecom Company , Zain KSA , Etisalat , Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison , Telkomsel , Smart Communications , Globe Telecom , Millicom , Smartfren , Telecom Argentina , MTN , Telstra , Africell , Liberty Latin America and others . AT & T , Verizon , Vodafone , Google , Rakuten , American Tower , Cisneros Group and Bell Canada are also existing investors in AST SpaceMobile . p
“ Adding premium lower mid-band spectrum access in the United States to the AST SpaceMobile network gives us longterm access to a large block of a scarce resource , significantly enhancing our planned space-based cellular broadband offering ,” said Abel Avellan , Chairman and CEO , AST SpaceMobile .
“ Alongside the previously announced 850 MHz nationwide network plans , access to the largest available block of high-quality nationwide spectrum will position us to deliver
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