AST SpaceMobile Announces Next Satellite Launch Date
Space start-up AST SpaceMobile has announced that its next satellite launch is scheduled for August 5. This follows a recent deployment by SpaceX and marks another step in the growing competition to build low-earth-orbit networks for broadband and cellular access. AST SpaceMobile currently operates nine satellites, significantly fewer than SpaceX's Starlink service, which serves over 10 million subscribers with more than 9,600 satellites. The company differentiates itself by selling satellite coverage as a 'range extender' to mobile network operators like AT&T and Verizon rather than directly providing broadband services. The upcoming launch will deploy three BlueBird satellites using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. AST SpaceMobile aims for continuous high-priority market coverage with just 45-60 satellites, but achieving this goal by the end of 2026 appears challenging.
Topics: AST SpaceMobile Competition with SpaceX Satellite Broadband Space Industry