The FCC grant paves the way for space-based
cellular broadband services for everyday smartphones in the United
States
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the
company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband
network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for
both commercial and government applications, today announced that
the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted an
initial license for space-based operations in the United States.
With this initial license, AST SpaceMobile is now authorized to
launch and operate V, S and UHF frequencies to support gateway,
feeder link and telemetry, tracking, and control operations for the
first five commercial BlueBird satellites.
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AST SpaceMobile first five commercial
satellites, BlueBird 1-5 (Photo: Business Wire)
This FCC grant represents a critical step to advancing several
important goals shared by AST SpaceMobile and the Commission,
including closing the digital divide, expanding access to emergency
communications, accelerating digital transformation and advancing
U.S. leadership in direct-to-device regulation. This step follows
the March 2024 update of AST SpaceMobile’s constellation filings
with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and related
filings with the FCC, placing the planned commercial satellites
under the jurisdiction of the United States.
“This regulatory milestone is a significant step to targeting
100% nationwide coverage from space of the continental United
States on premium cellular spectrum,” said Scott Wisniewski,
President of AST SpaceMobile. “Through our strategic partnerships
with companies like AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone and our other key
partners around the world, we aim to enhance cellular connectivity
globally, essentially eliminating dead zones and empowering remote
areas with space-based cellular broadband connectivity.”
“The FCC grant paves the way for commercial space-based
broadband services in the United States,” said Vikram Raval, Head
of Global Regulatory Affairs. “By approving the launch of our first
five BlueBirds, the largest-ever commercial communications arrays
to be deployed in low Earth orbit, the FCC has taken a significant
step forward for both AST SpaceMobile and U.S. leadership in space.
As a U.S. company, we are committed to building our constellation
and fostering regulatory relationships domestically and across the
globe to provide this vital space-based infrastructure to the
United States and across the world.”
AST SpaceMobile has successfully completed the manufacturing,
assembly, and environmental testing its first five commercial
satellites, called BlueBirds, and are now ready for shipment to
Cape Canaveral during the first week of August, with a 7-day launch
window in September.
During 2024, AST SpaceMobile has secured additional strategic
investment from AT&T, Verizon, Google and Vodafone, as well as
a new contract award with the United States Government through a
prime contractor. The company has agreements with more than 45
mobile network operators globally, which have over 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, and Bell Canada are also existing
investors in AST SpaceMobile.
About AST SpaceMobile
AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular
broadband network in space to operate directly with standard,
unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent
portfolio, and designed for both commercial and government
applications. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission
to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five billion
mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who
remain unconnected. For more information, follow AST SpaceMobile on
YouTube, X (Formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook. Watch this
video for an overview of the SpaceMobile mission.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” that
are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results of AST SpaceMobile to differ materially
from those expected and projected. These forward-looking statements
can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology,
including the words “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,”
“expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential,”
“projects,” “predicts,” “continue,” or “should,” or, in each case,
their negative or other variations or comparable terminology.
These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and
uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are
outside AST SpaceMobile’s control and are difficult to predict.
Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not
limited to: (i) expectations regarding AST SpaceMobile’s strategies
and future financial performance, including AST’s future business
plans or objectives, expected functionality of the SpaceMobile
Service, anticipated timing of the launch of the Block 1 BlueBird
satellites, anticipated demand and acceptance of mobile satellite
services, prospective performance and commercial opportunities and
competitors, the timing of obtaining regulatory approvals, ability
to finance its research and development activities, commercial
partnership acquisition and retention, products and services,
pricing, marketing plans, operating expenses, market trends,
revenues, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital
expenditures, and AST SpaceMobile’s ability to invest in growth
initiatives; (ii) the negotiation of definitive agreements with
mobile network operators relating to the SpaceMobile Service that
would supersede preliminary agreements and memoranda of
understanding and the ability to enter into commercial agreements
with other parties or government entities; (iii) the ability of AST
SpaceMobile to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key
employees and AST SpaceMobile’s responses to actions of its
competitors and its ability to effectively compete; (iv) changes in
applicable laws or regulations; (v) the possibility that AST
SpaceMobile may be adversely affected by other economic, business,
and/or competitive factors; (vi) the outcome of any legal
proceedings that may be instituted against AST SpaceMobile; and
(vii) other risks and uncertainties indicated in the Company’s
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),
including those in the Risk Factors section of AST SpaceMobile’s
Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024.
AST SpaceMobile cautions that the foregoing list of factors is
not exclusive. AST SpaceMobile cautions readers not to place undue
reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date made. For information identifying important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the
Risk Factors in AST SpaceMobile’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on
April 1, 2024. AST SpaceMobile’s securities filings can be accessed
on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as
expressly required by applicable securities law, AST SpaceMobile
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240805857810/en/
Investors: Scott Wisniewski investors@ast-science.com
Media: Allison Eva Murphy Ryan 917-547-7289
AstSpaceMobile@allisonpr.com
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