SpaceX successfully launched five AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites on September 12, 2024, using a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The BlueBird satellites are designed to provide cellular broadband services directly to standard smartphones, aiming to serve both commercial and government sectors.
The BlueBird satellites will deliver non-continuous broadband coverage across the United States and selected global markets, offering peak data speeds of up to 120 Mbps. Each satellite beam supports a capacity of up to 40 MHz and aims to provide near-100% nationwide coverage with over 5,600 coverage cells. The technology enables users to connect to the space-based network with everyday smartphones for voice, data, and video services, as well as various non-communications government applications.
AST SpaceMobile has secured strategic investments from major players such as AT&T, Verizon, and Google, and holds agreements with over 45 mobile network operators globally, representing more than 2.8 billion subscribers. With over 3,400 patents and patent-pending claims, AST SpaceMobile operates advanced manufacturing and testing facilities in Texas, positioning itself as a key player in the future of global telecommunications.
• AST SpaceMobile successfully launches five BlueBird satellites to build space-based cellular broadband network.
• The satellites will offer non-continuous broadband service across the U.S. and select global markets.
• BlueBird satellites can provide peak data speeds of up to 120 Mbps with a 40 MHz capacity per beam.
• The network will deliver cellular broadband directly to standard smartphones for voice, data, and video services.
• AST SpaceMobile has secured strategic investments from AT&T, Verizon, Google, and others.
• The company has agreements with 45+ mobile network operators globally, covering 2.8 billion subscribers.
• AST SpaceMobile operates a 185,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Midland, Texas.
“This is an exciting next step to a future where our customers will only be hard to reach if they choose to be – giving them the power to go anywhere and the possibility to do anything while staying connected with just an everyday cell phone,” said Jeff McElfresh, Chief Operating Officer, AT&T.
