AST SpaceMobile announced on October 20, 2026, that it is progressing toward launching initial, intermittent space-based cellular broadband service before the end of 2026. The planned service will cover the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia.
The company has deployed, installed, or is planning more than 60 gateways globally to support its network. It has partnerships with more than 60 mobile network operators, representing a potential market of over 3 billion subscribers.
AST SpaceMobile is assembling and testing its BlueBird satellites in Texas. It aims to provide direct-to-smartphone connectivity without specialized hardware as part of a global rollout.