AST SpaceMobile outlined aggressive manufacturing and launch plans for its space-based cellular broadband network in its Q1 2025 update, signaling a major step toward commercial service. The company aims to launch five Block 2 BlueBird satellites over the next six to nine months, beginning with the first unit shipping in Q2 and launching in July. AST expects to achieve a monthly satellite manufacturing cadence of six units by the end of 2025 and is preparing to scale phased array production to support continuous coverage across the U.S., Europe, Japan, and government markets starting in 2026.
The company also expanded its U.S. government portfolio, with new contracts from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and ongoing work under a $43 million award from the Space Development Agency. Revenue for the second half of 2025 is projected between $50 million and $75 million as commercialization efforts advance. AST has signed agreements with AT&T, Verizon, Rakuten, and Vodafone for cellular broadband delivery via premium low-band spectrum, and it continues to secure regulatory approvals and spectrum assets, including 45 MHz of lower mid-band spectrum in the U.S. for direct-to-device use.
AST SpaceMobile concluded Q1 with $874.5 million in cash and began diligence phases with EXIM Bank and the International Finance Corporation for over $500 million in potential non-dilutive capital. Equipment bookings from MNO partners reached $13.6 million in the quarter, with an expected $10 million per quarter going forward to support gateway deployments. The company also completed a two-way video call via an unmodified smartphone with Rakuten Mobile, demonstrating real-time broadband via satellite.
- Five Block 2 BlueBird satellite launches planned over the next 6–9 months; first launch set for July 2025.
- Satellite manufacturing to scale to 6 units/month; phased arrays on track for Q3 cadence.
- Commercial broadband rollout planned with AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Rakuten using low-band spectrum.
- Government contracts include $43M with SDA and up to $20M with DIU; FirstNet trials underway.
- $874.5M in cash; in diligence with EXIM and IFC for $500M+ in non-dilutive capital.
- Expected H2 2025 revenue: $50M–$75M; equipment bookings from MNOs projected at $10M/quarter.
- Demonstrated two-way satellite video calls via unmodified smartphones.
“Today, we are at an inflection point for the company,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “We have ramped up manufacturing capacity and are now able to announce our plans to support five scheduled orbital launches over the next six to nine months.”
