FCC clears AST SpaceMobile's U.S. direct-to-device service
AST SpaceMobile provided a business update and Q1 2026 results, announcing the FCC has authorized commercial SpaceMobile Service in the United States for direct-to-device broadband connectivity using its network of up to 248 satellites. The company is preparing to launch BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 satellites in mid-June with SpaceX, targeting approximately 45 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026. A new record was achieved with 98.9 Mbps peak data speeds from an in-orbit Block 1 BlueBird satellite directly to an unmodified smartphone over international waters, with Q1 2026 revenue reported at $14.7 million.
Key Takeaways
- FCC Supplemental Coverage from Space grant covers commercial SpaceMobile Service in the United States for direct-to-device broadband connectivity.
- BlueBird 8, BlueBird 9, and BlueBird 10 are on track for a mid-June launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle.
- AST SpaceMobile is targeting approximately 45 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026, with BlueBird 11 through BlueBird 33 in advanced production and assembly.
- The company said it hit 98.9 Mbps peak data speeds from an in-orbit Block 1 BlueBird satellite directly to an unmodified smartphone over international waters.
- First-quarter 2026 revenue was $14.7 million, and full-year revenue guidance remains $150 million to $200 million.
Why It Matters
The FCC approval gives AST SpaceMobile a regulatory path to commercial service in the U.S. for direct-to-device broadband, while the company continues building out the satellite fleet needed to support it. The launch cadence matters because AST is still moving from demonstration to scale: BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 are due in mid-June, and management is targeting about 45 satellites in orbit by year-end. Also worth watching is whether the company can convert that buildout into the revenue ramp it described, starting from $14.7 million in Q1 against full-year guidance of $150 million to $200 million.
Read full article at advfn.com
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