AST SpaceMobile is building a direct-to-cell satellite network designed to connect standard smartphones to space-based 4G and 5G service without special hardware.
After proving the concept with BlueWalker 3 and launching BlueBird 1-6, it reached 13 satellites in orbit on 5 August 2026 with BlueBird 11, 12 and 13. BlueBirds 14, 15 and 16 left Midland for Cape Canaveral by the 3 October 2026 Advanced Television report. As of 16 October 2026 neither AST nor SpaceX had posted a Falcon 9 date for that trio. SpaceLaunchNow lists the flight in Q4 2026 and, on 15 October, said the vehicle identity was added by conjecture. Assembly is reported through BlueBird 50. On 5 October 2026 TELUS and AST completed their first Canadian network integration test. The TELUS-issued joint release says the service is expected to be available to TELUS customers within the next year. A catalog milestone already uses that window, from 5 October 2026 through 5 October 2027. An older nextStep still labeled Late 2026 is the pre-test target and is pending a slip. First commercial service outside the US went live 4 August 2026 in Japan with Rakuten Mobile. On 7 October a U.S.-Japan joint statement welcomed AST-Rakuten LEO cooperation. That is diplomatic backing, not a new funded award. On 8 October 2026 Grain Management announced a definitive agreement to sell 100 percent of its nationwide 800 MHz portfolio to SpaceX, subject to FCC approval. SpaceX described up to 14 MHz of paired low-band spectrum, and an FCC transfer narrative cites a purchase and sale agreement of the same date. AST is not the named buyer. Those documents do not state a price. Manufacturing is running at up to six BlueBirds per month. The FCC 800 MHz STA that ran through 12 September 2026 expired without public test results found in this check. Q2 2026 revenue was $31.5 million against $150-200 million full-year guidance. Q3 materials are not yet on the IR page.
TargetImminent (trial window runs through Sep 30, 2026)
Convert Ofcom's non-commercial Demonstration & Trial Licence (issued to Vodafone July 24, 2026, running through September 30, 2026) into live UK direct-to-cell testing. AST told the FCC on August 11, 2026 that it would begin operations 'imminently' after completing interference assessments, using Vodafone's licensed 880.1-885.1/925.1-930.1 MHz spectrum and gateways including Goonhilly Downs. As of 7 September 2026 neither AST nor Vodafone has confirmed that UK trial traffic has started, and the Ofcom licence still does not authorize commercial use.
Begin text, voice, and data coverage in remote Canadian regions through the TELUS partnership - TELUS has both a commercial agreement and a direct equity stake in AST - using standard smartphones and TELUS-backed ground infrastructure, with service targeted for late 2026. Fellow Canadian partner Bell completed and integration-tested its first sovereign direct-to-device ground station in Quebec on July 15, 2026 (targeting a 2027 launch). As of 7 September 2026 neither TELUS nor AST has announced a Canadian commercial start date or a slip, so the late-2026 target is unchanged.
Bid for Grain Management's 800 MHz spectrum licenses
TargetNovember 5, 2026 (FCC bidding process target)
AST is among the bidders, alongside SpaceX, for about $6 billion of 800 MHz spectrum licenses that Grain Management acquired from T-Mobile. Grain completed that acquisition on August 11, 2026. The licenses cover the same 817-824 MHz uplink and 862-869 MHz downlink bands AST is testing under its 30-day FCC authority. Preliminary offers were due in early September 2026, with the FCC targeting a completed competitive solicitation by November 5, 2026. As of 10 September 2026 no winner has been announced.
TargetNationwide in FY2027 (limited commercial in Q4 2026)
AST's first international commercial direct-to-cell service went live August 4, 2026 when the company notified the FCC it had initiated active D2C operations in Japan with Rakuten Mobile on Rakuten's 700 MHz spectrum. A Rakuten spokesperson told Light Reading the carrier still plans to start offering commercial services in the fourth quarter of 2026. The remaining goal is to grow that limited 2026 service into nationwide Japanese coverage in fiscal 2027, backed by up to about $1B in Japanese government capital for the J-LEO / J-BLUEBIRD-NGSO architecture and a planned 50/50 Rakuten-AST joint venture that Rakuten has said it expects to formalize before the end of 2026, with Rakuten leading management.
Target~45 satellites by early 2027 (slipped from end-2026)
With BlueBird 11, 12 and 13 successfully launched August 5, 2026 (bringing the in-orbit fleet to 13 satellites) and BlueBirds 12 and 13 fully deployed in late August, the next milestone is getting BlueBird 14, 15 and 16 into orbit. Production of BlueBird 14 is complete, 15-16 are nearing completion, and the line has advanced through BlueBird 48. On July 15, 2026 AST disclosed that launch-vehicle disruptions pushed the roughly-45-satellite milestone from end of 2026 to early 2027. As of 7 September 2026 no launch date has been set for BlueBird 14-16; trade press has floated an unconfirmed October window.
Turn on continuous US commercial direct-to-device service
Convert the FCC's April 22, 2026 commercial authorization - covering a 248-satellite constellation and direct-to-device operation on AT&T, Verizon, and FirstNet low-band spectrum - into paying US service. On July 15, 2026 AST deferred continuous commercial service from late 2026 to early 2027, after launch-vehicle disruptions - chiefly a late-June New Glenn upper-stage explosion - thinned its near-term access to orbit. It still needs 45 to 60 operational BlueBirds to move from intermittent to continuous coverage across the US, Europe, and Japan. Light Reading's August 2026 earnings-call writeup said AST aims to have scaled beta capability ready later in 2026 but declined to say when MNO trials start, and confirmed the early-2027 continuous-service target. As a step toward that beta, AST had activated 3,000 digital cells across the continental US as of its August 10, 2026 Q2 update.
Convert defense wins into task orders (HALO Europa + SHIELD)
Deliver SDA's Europa Track 2 demonstration using AST's commercial satellites for tactical direct-to-device communications, and begin competing for task orders under the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD / 'Golden Dome' IDIQ prime position won in January 2026 - establishing AST SpaceMobile USA as a repeatable defense contractor. At its August 10, 2026 Q2 update AST disclosed three additional government awards worth over $100M of combined near-term funded value across 2026-2027 and said it expects government business to grow into a recurring multi-billion-dollar annual opportunity starting in 2027; the SDA Europa demonstration remains due by December 2027. No further task orders or awards had been disclosed as of September 10, 2026.
Evaluate vertical integration into launch capacity
AST disclosed alongside its July 2026 $1B+ convertible-note raise that proceeds could fund 'partnerships and/or acquisitions to further vertically integrate its business and mitigate risks associated with third-party launch providers' - language analysts read as AST following Rocket Lab's playbook toward owning or investing in a launch provider. The company said it had no understandings or agreements in place as of mid-July 2026. As of September 10, 2026 AST has still not announced any launch-company partnership or acquisition; whether this converts into an actual deal remains unresolved.
Close Ligado L-band spectrum transaction pending FCC approval
TargetUnspecified (pending FCC decision)
AST's subsidiaries agreed in early 2025 to take long-term access to up to 40 MHz of L-band mobile satellite services spectrum in the US and Canada plus 5 MHz of adjacent spectrum, as part of Ligado Networks' Chapter 11 restructuring (bankruptcy court confirmed the plan September 29, 2025). AST would pay Ligado about $550M upon FCC approval plus warrants and $80M in annual lease payments. Ligado's FCC modification request - to deploy an L-band payload on up to 96 AST satellites - remains pending, opposed by Iridium over interference-coordination concerns. On August 23, 2026 a broader coalition (Airlines for America, Iridium, and other aviation, GPS, and maritime groups) filed FCC comments arguing AST's role as sole day-to-day operator of the constellation makes it impossible for Ligado to also run a coexisting terrestrial mobile offering on the same spectrum. As of September 10, 2026 the FCC has not ruled.
Run FCC-authorized 800 MHz supplemental-coverage test
TargetBy 12 Sep 2026 (30-day authority)
Use the 30-day FCC special temporary authority granted August 14, 2026 to test Supplemental Coverage from Space service over the 817-824 MHz uplink and 862-869 MHz downlink bands on up to 100 commercial devices in two 50 km zones around Midland, Texas and Lanham, Maryland. Light Reading reports the authority runs through 12 September 2026. A successful test would open a second US low-band spectrum path alongside AST's existing AT&T/Verizon/FirstNet coordination. As of 10 September 2026 no public test results have been posted, two days before the window closes.
A U.S.-Japan joint statement welcomed Rakuten Group and AST SpaceMobile cooperation on low Earth orbit satellite infrastructure under the Technology Prosperity Deal. Advanced Television said the State Department release followed an Oct. 4 Kyoto meeting between OSTP Director Michael Kratsios and Japan's Toshiharu Furukawa. SatNews said a joint protocol dated Oct. 5 formalized inclusion of the project. Direct fetch of the State.gov page returned 403; the quoted welcome sentence matches the official snippet. The statement does not itself award funding or a spectrum license.
TELUS and AST SpaceMobile said on Oct. 5, 2026 they completed their first integration test between TELUS's wireless network and AST's space-based network, covering voice, text and broadband data to smartphones. TELUS said the service is expected to be available to its customers within the next year on eligible phones, with no special equipment. AST's investor press-release page did not list a matching post when checked, so the joint TELUS release is the company-confirmed source.
AST SpaceMobile fully deployed the 2,400-square-foot communications arrays on BlueBird satellites 12 and 13 in late August 2026, and New Zealand carrier 2degrees officially opened its Marton satellite ground station, completing voice calls, video calls and mobile data sessions over standard smartphones through the AST network. Berenberg initiated coverage of AST SpaceMobile with a Buy rating and $92 price target on September 2, 2026, and the stock climbed as partners including US Mobile prepared to launch direct-to-cell coverage on the network.
SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile are among the bidders for about $6 billion of 800 MHz spectrum licenses that Grain Management acquired from T-Mobile in a swap earlier this month, Bloomberg reported August 20. The licenses cover 817-824 MHz uplink and 862-869 MHz downlink frequencies across 3,224 US counties; preliminary offers are due in early September, with the FCC targeting a completed bidding process by November 5.
The FCC granted AST SpaceMobile a 30-day special temporary authority on August 14, 2026 to test Supplemental Coverage from Space service over 800 MHz spectrum, covering the 817-824 MHz uplink and 862-869 MHz downlink bands, on up to 100 commercial devices. The lower-frequency spectrum travels farther and penetrates buildings better than the higher bands AST currently uses, and the tests must stay non-commercial and comply with AST's existing T-Mobile agreements.
AST SpaceMobile reported Q2 2026 revenue of $31.5 million on August 10, below the roughly $34.5 million analyst consensus, with a $230.9 million GAAP net loss driven largely by a $125.9 million charge tied to the lost BlueBird 7 satellite. The company reaffirmed full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $150-200 million, said contracted revenue backlog grew to about $1.3 billion, and now has 13 satellites in orbit after the BlueBird 11-13 launch.
AST SpaceMobile confirmed the successful orbital launch of BlueBird satellites 11, 12 and 13 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral at 3:42 a.m. EDT on August 5, 2026, bringing its in-orbit constellation to 13 satellites. The next-generation satellites carry an upgraded roughly 2,400-square-foot phased array that nearly doubles peak download speeds over the company's first-generation BlueBirds, with production already advanced through satellite 42 and BlueBird 14-16 preparing for the next mission.
AST SpaceMobile announced on July 28, 2026 that BlueBirds 11, 12, and 13 are targeted to launch August 5 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, carrying an upgraded roughly 2,400-square-foot phased array that nearly doubles peak download speeds over the first-generation satellites. BlueBirds 14-16 are already in production, with manufacturing progressing through unit 42, as AST works toward roughly 45 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.
The Midland Development Corporation and Midland City Council approved a performance-based incentive of up to $66 million over 30 years on July 21 to back a new AST SpaceMobile satellite factory of at least 400,000 square feet - roughly five times the size of its existing Midland plant. At full buildout the project targets about 1,800 jobs, $144 million in annual payroll and up to $150 million in taxable capital investment, with the city projecting $116 million in property-tax revenue; the deal excludes property and sales-tax abatements. AST SpaceMobile shares rose about 12% on the news.
AST SpaceMobile priced a private offering of $1.0 billion of 1.625% convertible senior notes due 2034 on July 15, with an initial conversion price of about $79.57 per share, a capped-call cap near $149.20, and a 13-day option for up to $150 million more; settlement is expected around July 20. The satellite-to-smartphone company said it will use proceeds to fund growth initiatives and secure additional access to orbit for its BlueBird constellation. ASTS shares fell more than 17% as investors weighed the added dilution.
Vodafone Ireland, with the government's Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, said on July 2 it completed what it called Europe's first live direct-to-device emergency-services satellite call, connecting a standard smartphone through AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird constellation on Clare Island, County Mayo. The test - run via Satellite Connect Europe, the Vodafone–AST SpaceMobile joint venture - showed frontline responders could keep voice and data service where terrestrial networks are unavailable. AST SpaceMobile shares rose after the trial as the company scales its space-based cellular broadband network.
Japan's government is set to provide up to 150 billion yen (about $926 million) over three years to a Rakuten-led consortium building a homegrown low-Earth-orbit satellite network using AST SpaceMobile's direct-to-smartphone technology. Rakuten intends to form a joint venture with AST in 2026 in which the two hold equal stakes with Rakuten leading management, targeting limited service in 2026 and nationwide coverage in fiscal 2027. AST SpaceMobile shares jumped roughly 21% on the June 29 news, their best day in nearly two years.
A subcommittee of Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Information and Communications Council approved a recommendation on June 24 allowing direct connectivity between low-Earth-orbit satellites and smartphones over the 700 MHz band that Rakuten already uses for terrestrial mobile. Japan is expected to revise the related ministerial ordinances in September, clearing a path for Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile to launch service, with a phased rollout beginning late 2026 and nationwide coverage targeted in fiscal 2027. Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said the two will form a 50/50 satellite joint venture this year, with Rakuten leading management.
AST SpaceMobile announced on June 23 that its next three BlueBird satellites - 11, 12 and 13 - are targeted to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral in the first half of August, continuing the cadence set by the June 17 launch of BlueBirds 8, 9 and 10. The company said the satellites are in final preparations for shipment and that production is underway through BlueBird 37 at a rate of up to six satellites per month at its Midland, Texas facility. The buildout advances AST's push toward continuous space-based cellular broadband coverage.
AST SpaceMobile confirmed the successful launch of BlueBird satellites 8, 9, and 10 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on June 17, with the rocket's upper stage deploying all three into low Earth orbit about an hour after liftoff. The spacecraft carry the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed in LEO - roughly 2,400 square feet each - to beam space-based cellular broadband directly to standard smartphones, quadrupling AST's next-generation in-orbit fleet. The launch restores momentum after the company's BlueBird 7 satellite was deorbited in April and advances its push to build the constellation needed for continuous U.S. coverage.
$150M-$200M guided for 2026, reaffirmed at the Aug 10, 2026 Q2 business update call (Q2 2026: $31.5M, more than double Q1's $14.7M; ~$1.3B contracted backlog); Q3 results not due until November and guidance is unchanged as of 7 Sep 2026
Satellites in Orbit
13
(BlueWalker 3 + BlueBird 1-6, 8-13). BlueBirds 12 and 13 fully deployed their 2,400 sq ft arrays in late August 2026; BlueBird 14 is complete and 15-16 are nearing completion, with no confirmed next launch date as of 7 Sep 2026
MNO Partners
Over 60 on the 6 Oct 2026 homepage and company page (3B+ potential subscribers); the partners page still says nearly 60 covering over 3 billion subscribers
U.S. Commercial Authorization
FCC SCS license for up to 248 satellites
(124 by Aug 2030, full by Aug 2033); 30-day FCC special temporary authority to test 800 MHz SCS on up to 100 devices in Midland, TX and Lanham, MD runs through 12 Sep 2026, with no public test results posted as of 10 Sep 2026
Manufacturing Cadence
Up to 6 BlueBirds/month
production of BlueBird 14 complete, 15-16 nearing completion, and the line advanced through BlueBird 48 as of late August 2026
Satellites in Production
As of 16 Oct 2026 neither AST nor SpaceX had posted a Falcon 9 date for BlueBirds 14-16. SpaceLaunchNow lists the flight in Q4 2026 and says the vehicle identity was added by conjecture on 15 Oct. The satellites were already recorded as en route to Cape Canaveral.
Q2 2026 Revenue
$31.5M
(more than double Q1 2026), against a $230.9M GAAP net loss ($0.77/share) including a $125.9M loss on involuntary conversion tied to the BlueBird 7 de-orbit; Q3 2026 results are not due until November 2026
2026 Revenue Guidance
$150M-$200M
(reaffirmed at the Aug 10, 2026 Q2 business update call; backed by a contracted revenue backlog of about $1.3B); no later guidance change as of 7 Sep 2026
Defense Programs
MDA SHIELD prime
(Golden Dome IDIQ, awarded Jan 2026) + SDA $30M HALO Europa prototype (awarded Feb 2026), plus three additional U.S. government awards disclosed Aug 10, 2026 worth over $100M of combined near-term funded value across 2026-2027; no new task orders or awards disclosed as of Sept 10, 2026
Cash & Liquidity
Pro forma cash, equivalents & restricted cash above $3.8B (Jun 30, 2026), after the $1.15B convertible-note raise closed July 21, 2026; no new financing announced as of Sept 10, 2026
Beta Service Readiness
3,000 digital cells activated across the continental US as of the Aug 10, 2026 Q2 business update, part of preparing scaled, non-commercial beta usage with MNO partners in select global markets during 2026; Light Reading reported in August that AST aims to have beta capability ready later in 2026 but declined to say when MNO trials start
Market cap
About $24.25B at the Sept 8, 2026 close of $66.12 (NASDAQ: ASTS); some data providers quote a lower ~$18.7B figure that counts only publicly traded Class A shares
Market cap
About $22.74B at the Oct 5, 2026 close of $58.44 (NASDAQ: ASTS; 389.17M shares outstanding per StockAnalysis)
800 MHz spectrum sale
On 8 Oct 2026 Grain agreed to sell 100 percent of its nationwide 800 MHz portfolio to SpaceX, subject to FCC approval. SpaceX describes up to 14 MHz paired. AST is not the named buyer. No price in the Grain release, SpaceX update, or FCC narrative.
06
Operations & revenue
Operating status
Active; SpaceX named 800 MHz buyer, sale not closed
On 8 Oct 2026 Grain announced a definitive agreement to sell its nationwide 800 MHz portfolio to SpaceX, subject to FCC approval. SpaceX's same-day update says the portfolio is up to 14 MHz of paired spectrum. An FCC narrative describes a purchase and sale agreement dated 8 Oct 2026 transferring Prism licenses from NewLevel to Starlink Spectrum Holdings. AST is not the named buyer, and those documents do not state a price. BlueBirds 14-16 still have no AST or SpaceX launch date as of 16 Oct 2026. A SpaceLaunchNow Q4 2026 entry says the vehicle identity is conjecture. The TELUS joint release of 5 Oct expects customer service within the next year. The 7 Oct U.S.-Japan statement welcoming AST-Rakuten LEO work remains diplomatic backing, not a new award. 13 satellites remain in orbit. Q3 results are not on the IR page.
Revenue streams
MNO Revenue Sharing
Gateway hardware, software, milestone payments, and future service revenue from carrier partners such as AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, and other mobile network operators extending coverage with direct-to-cell satellite service. Backed by about $1.3B of aggregate contracted revenue commitments from commercial partners and U.S. government awards, up from ~$1.2B at Q1 2026.
Government & Defense
Prototype contracts, milestone payments, and follow-on opportunities with U.S. defense and government customers using AST's dual-use BlueBird constellation for resilient tactical communications. AST holds an SDA $30M HALO Europa prototype agreement and, since January 2026, a prime contract position on the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD IDIQ - the vehicle behind the 'Golden Dome' architecture. At its Aug 10, 2026 Q2 call the company disclosed three additional government awards worth over $100M of near-term funded value across 2026-2027 and said management expects government business could supply roughly half of its near-term ~$1B annual revenue target.
Enterprise Direct Connectivity
Remote-area voice, messaging, and broadband sold through operator partners for customers that need coverage beyond terrestrial towers, including field operations, travel, and emergency response.
07
Track record
How past announced dates turned out.
1/1announced date hit on time
1 Hit
0 Slipped
0 Missed
Hit
Launch first international (Japan) direct-to-cell service in 2026
Target 2026 · Resolved Aug 4, 2026
AST SpaceMobile notified the FCC on August 4, 2026 that it had initiated active direct-to-cell service operations in Japan with Rakuten Mobile on Rakuten's 700 MHz spectrum - AST's first commercial service activation outside the US, well within the 2026 target window. Nationwide Japanese coverage remains targeted for fiscal 2027.
On 8 October 2026 Grain Management announced a definitive agreement for SpaceX to acquire 100 percent of Grain's nationwide 800 MHz spectrum portfolio, subject to FCC approval. SpaceX said the portfolio is up to 14 MHz of paired spectrum. An FCC transfer narrative cites a purchase and sale agreement of the same date moving Prism licenses from NewLevel IV to Starlink Spectrum Holdings. AST is not the named buyer, and those documents do not state a price. The 5 November FCC notification date is not the closing date.
US and Japan welcome AST-Rakuten LEO work
On Oct. 7, 2026 Advanced Television and SatNews reported a U.S. Department of State joint statement in which the United States and Japan welcomed Rakuten Group and AST SpaceMobile cooperation on LEO satellite infrastructure under the U.S.-Japan Technology Prosperity Deal. The statement followed an Oct. 4 Kyoto meeting between OSTP Director Michael Kratsios and Japan's Toshiharu Furukawa. SatNews said a joint protocol dated Oct. 5 formalized inclusion of the project. Direct fetch of the State.gov page returned 403. The statement does not itself award funding.
Ships BlueBird 14, 15 and 16 toward Cape Canaveral
On 3 October 2026 Advanced Television reported that BlueBirds 11, 12 and 13 were performing nominally in orbit with their arrays deployed, after earlier market speculation about BlueBird 11, and that BlueBirds 14, 15 and 16 had left AST's Midland, Texas factory for Cape Canaveral to be readied for launch. The same report said assembly had advanced through BlueBird 50. AST's next-gen BlueBird page still lists no launch date for the next batch.
Completes first network integration test with TELUS
On Oct. 5, 2026 TELUS and AST SpaceMobile said they completed their first integration test between TELUS's wireless network and AST's space-based network, covering voice, text and broadband data to smartphones. TELUS said the capability is expected to be available to its customers within the next year on eligible phones with no special equipment. AST CCO Chris Ivory was quoted in the TELUS release. AST's investor press-release page did not list a matching post when checked the same day.
BlueBird 12 and 13 arrays fully deployed; production reaches BlueBird 48
In late August 2026 AST said BlueBirds 12 and 13 had fully deployed their 2,400 sq ft communications arrays after the August 5 Falcon 9 launch. Production of BlueBird 14 was complete, BlueBirds 15 and 16 were nearing completion, and the manufacturing line had advanced from BlueBird 42 to BlueBird 48. No launch date has been set for the next batch; trade press has floated an unconfirmed October window.
2degrees opens Marton ground station after live smartphone tests
On August 26, 2026 New Zealand carrier 2degrees officially opened its Marton satellite ground station, one of the first commercial AST SpaceMobile gateways, after August trials that completed voice calls, video calls and mobile-data sessions on standard smartphones. 2degrees said it will confirm customer-trial and commercial-launch timing once constellation availability is high enough to support a viable service.
FCC grants 30-day special temporary authority to test 800 MHz spectrum
The FCC granted AST SpaceMobile a 30-day special temporary authority to test its Supplemental Coverage from Space service over the 817-824 MHz uplink and 862-869 MHz downlink bands using up to 100 commercially available devices. The spectrum is part of the 800 MHz portfolio the FCC cleared Grain Management to acquire from T-Mobile on July 1, 2026 - a swap AST had told the FCC it was 'well-positioned to put... into use now.'
Tells FCC UK direct-to-cell service with Vodafone is imminent
In an August 11, 2026 FCC filing, AST SpaceMobile said it would begin UK direct-to-cell operations with Vodafone 'imminently' after securing the necessary authorizations and completing interference assessments. The filing names Vodafone's licensed 880.1-885.1 MHz uplink and 925.1-930.1 MHz downlink spectrum, backhauled through gateways including Goonhilly Downs, and points to Ofcom's Demonstration & Trial Licence 1418602/1 (issued to Vodafone on July 24, 2026, running through September 30, 2026) - a non-commercial trial authorization, not a commercial-service date. AST committed to deactivate beams if verified harmful interference occurs.
2026
Reports Q2 2026 results: revenue doubles, backlog grows to $1.3B
At its August 10, 2026 business update call, AST SpaceMobile reported $31.5M of Q2 2026 revenue - more than double Q1 - against a $230.9M GAAP net loss ($0.77/share) that included a $125.9M loss on involuntary conversion tied to the BlueBird 7 de-orbit. The company said its contracted revenue backlog grew to about $1.3B, reaffirmed full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $150M-$200M, and disclosed three additional U.S. government awards worth over $100M of combined near-term funded value across 2026-2027.
Expands European integration testing across eight countries
On August 6, 2026 AST SpaceMobile said network integration testing with its space-based cellular broadband service, subject to regulatory approvals, is underway across the UK, Ireland, Romania, France, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain and Ukraine, in collaboration with Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone Ukraine. The testing runs on the carrier-neutral gateway infrastructure of Satellite Connect Europe, AST's Luxembourg-headquartered joint venture with Vodafone.
Successfully launches BlueBird 11, 12 and 13
On August 5, 2026 AST SpaceMobile successfully launched BlueBird 11, 12 and 13 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, with liftoff at 3:42 a.m. EDT. The launch brings AST's in-orbit constellation to 13 satellites and follows the June 17, 2026 launch of BlueBird 8, 9 and 10; BlueBird 14, 15 and 16 are already preparing for the next mission.
BlueBird array earns Guinness World Record for largest commercial LEO array
In early August 2026 AST SpaceMobile announced that Guinness World Records recognized its Block 2 BlueBird phased-array antenna - nearly 2,400 sq ft, surpassing the ~693 sq ft first-generation BlueBirds - as the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in low Earth orbit. The company called the record 'an American breakthrough in space engineering,' pointing to the arrays' Texas manufacturing.
Commences direct-to-cell service in Japan with Rakuten
On August 4, 2026 AST SpaceMobile notified the FCC that it has initiated active direct-to-cell service operations in Japan with Rakuten Mobile on Rakuten's 700 MHz spectrum - AST's first commercial service activation outside the United States. The company said all required Japanese authorizations, including a user-equipment license from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, had been secured; Rakuten still expects only limited coverage in 2026, with nationwide service targeted for fiscal 2027.
Closes upsized $1.15B convertible notes; pro forma cash tops $3.8B
On July 21, 2026 AST SpaceMobile announced completion of its private offering of convertible senior notes due 2034, with initial purchasers exercising their full $150M option to bring the total to $1.15B (up from the $1.0B priced on July 15). The company said the raise pushed pro forma cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash above $3.8B as of June 30, 2026, extending runway for the 2026 manufacturing and launch campaign.
Sets August 5 launch date for BlueBird 11, 12 and 13
On July 28, 2026 AST SpaceMobile announced that BlueBird 11, 12 and 13 - already shipped to Cape Canaveral - are targeted to launch together on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on August 5, 2026, with liftoff planned for 3:42 a.m. ET (a backup opportunity at 5:10 a.m.). The company said BlueBird 14, 15 and 16 are already preparing for the next mission and that production has advanced through BlueBird 42.
Midland approves $66M incentive for larger satellite factory
On July 21, 2026 the Midland Development Corporation and Midland City Council approved a performance-based incentive of up to $66 million over 30 years to support a new AST SpaceMobile satellite manufacturing facility of at least 400,000 sq ft - roughly five times the size of its existing Midland plant - next to its Spaceport Business Park operations. At full buildout the project targets about 1,800 jobs, $144 million in annual payroll and up to $150 million in taxable capital investment, with the city projecting $116 million in property-tax revenue; the deal excludes property and sales-tax abatements. ASTS shares rose about 12% on the news.
Bell completes first Canadian D2D satellite ground station
On July 15, 2026 Bell Canada announced it had completed construction of its first sovereign direct-to-device satellite ground station, in Québec, and had passed integration testing - text, broadband data, and voice and video calls on standard smartphones - connecting to AST SpaceMobile's constellation. Bell is building additional ground stations in Ontario, Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador and is targeting a space-based cellular service launch in 2027.
Prices $1.0B of convertible notes due 2034
On July 15, 2026 AST SpaceMobile priced a private offering of $1.0 billion of 1.625% convertible senior notes due 2034, with an initial conversion price of about $79.57 per share, a capped-call cap near $149.20, and a 13-day option for initial purchasers to buy up to $150 million more; settlement was expected around July 20. The company said it would use proceeds to fund growth initiatives and secure additional access to orbit for its BlueBird constellation. ASTS shares fell more than 17% on the added dilution - a reversal from earlier 2026 financings that had lifted the stock.
Vodafone Ireland runs Europe's first satellite emergency-services call
On July 2, 2026 Vodafone Ireland - through Satellite Connect Europe, its joint venture with AST SpaceMobile - and Ireland's Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) completed a live mission-critical emergency-services call over AST's constellation from Clare Island, County Mayo, to standard smartphones. Described as a first of its kind in Europe, the trial demonstrated that direct-to-device satellite connectivity can keep 999/112 and blue-light services reachable when terrestrial networks are down.
FCC clears T-Mobile/Grain 800 MHz swap AST says it can use now
On July 1, 2026 the FCC approved a swap in which Grain Management acquires T-Mobile's 800 MHz licenses (T-Mobile receiving Grain's 600 MHz holdings plus $2.9B in cash), with conditions letting Grain partner with direct-to-device satellite operators. AST SpaceMobile told the FCC it is 'well-positioned to put the 800 MHz spectrum into use now,' saying its 10 in-orbit satellites can already use the band, more than 80% of its Block 2 satellites in production support it, and it plans to file an experimental application to test it - a potential second low-band spectrum path alongside its existing AT&T/Verizon/FirstNet coordination.
Japan to back Rakuten-AST network with up to $926M in subsidies
Reporting on June 29, 2026 revealed that Japan's government is set to provide up to 150 billion yen (about $926 million) over three years to the Rakuten-led consortium building a homegrown low-Earth-orbit network using AST SpaceMobile's direct-to-smartphone technology. The funding targets equipment procurement, ground facilities and the systems needed to launch and control the constellation, reinforcing the planned 50/50 Rakuten-AST joint venture aimed at limited service in 2026 and nationwide coverage in fiscal 2027. AST SpaceMobile shares jumped roughly 21% on the news, their best day in nearly two years.
Japan clears 700 MHz band for AST-Rakuten direct-to-cell
On June 24, 2026 a subcommittee of Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Information and Communications Council approved a recommendation allowing direct low-Earth-orbit satellite-to-smartphone connectivity over the 700 MHz band that Rakuten already uses for terrestrial mobile. Japan is expected to revise the related ministerial ordinances in September, clearing a path for Rakuten and AST to launch service, with a phased rollout beginning late 2026 and nationwide coverage targeted in fiscal 2027. Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said the two will form a 50/50 satellite joint venture this year, with Rakuten leading management.
Successfully launches BlueBird 8, 9 and 10
On June 17, 2026 AST successfully launches BlueBird 8, 9 and 10 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, with the upper stage deploying all three into low Earth orbit about an hour after liftoff - its first multi-satellite mission and a recovery from the April BlueBird 7 loss. The next-generation satellites carry the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed in LEO (~2,400 sq ft each), quadrupling AST's next-gen in-orbit fleet and bringing the company to 10 satellites in orbit.
Sets June 17 launch for BlueBird 8-10; production ramps to six/month
On June 9, 2026 AST announces that BlueBird 8, 9 and 10 will launch together on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on June 17, 2026 - its first multi-satellite mission. The company says it can now build up to six fully equipped BlueBirds per month across two Midland, Texas sites, with BlueBird 11-33 in advanced production and phased arrays completed through BlueBird 28.
BlueBird 7 lost after New Glenn insertion anomaly
Blue Origin's third New Glenn mission reuses and lands its booster, but places AST's BlueBird 7 satellite into a lower-than-planned orbit; AST says the satellite will be deorbited and that BlueBird 8-10 remain the next launch candidates.
FCC grants commercial direct-to-device authorization for 248-satellite constellation
On April 21, 2026 the FCC issues order DA 26-391 authorizing AST SpaceMobile to deploy a constellation of up to 248 satellites and to provide commercial Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) - direct-to-device cellular broadband to unmodified smartphones - across the United States using terrestrial low-band (700/800 MHz) spectrum coordinated with Verizon, AT&T and FirstNet. The license requires AST to launch at least half the constellation (124 satellites) by August 2, 2030 and the full network by August 2, 2033, marking AST's first U.S. commercial operating authority.
TELUS signs Canada commercial agreement
On March 3, 2026 TELUS signs a commercial agreement to bring AST's direct-to-cell service across Canada, investing in ground infrastructure and becoming an equity shareholder, with text, voice, and data service targeted for late 2026.
Wins MDA SHIELD prime slot under Golden Dome
On January 16, 2026, AST SpaceMobile announces it was awarded a prime contract position on the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) program - a 10-year, multiple-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity vehicle with an estimated $151B ceiling shared across more than 1,000 qualified vendors (later expanded past 2,400), underpinning the broader 'Golden Dome' missile-defense architecture. The award lets AST compete directly for task orders spanning research, development, engineering, prototyping, and operations of MDA systems, validating its dual-use, space-based direct-to-device technology for national-security missions.
Wins first AST-led SDA prime contract
On February 22, 2026 the Space Development Agency awards AST SpaceMobile USA a $30M firm-fixed-price HALO Europa Track 2 prototype agreement - the company's first prime contract - to demonstrate tactical direct-to-device SATCOM (TACSATCOM) using AST's commercial space vehicles, with demonstrations to be completed by December 2027.
Raises $1.075B of new convertible notes
In February 2026 AST issues $1.075B of 2.25% convertible senior notes due 2036 (including a $75M greenshoe) to fund constellation deployment, U.S. government opportunities, debt reduction, and opportunistic investments.
2025
Expands U.S. manufacturing and doubles workforce to 1,800+
On November 25, 2025 AST SpaceMobile announces two new production facilities - one in Midland, Texas and one in Homestead, Florida - bringing its Texas footprint to five sites and its total manufacturing footprint to about 500,000 sq ft, while doubling its U.S. headcount to more than 1,800 employees to accelerate next-generation BlueBird production toward a cadence of up to six satellites per month.
BlueBird 6 launched; $2.6B+ raised
Launches BlueBird 6 on December 23, 2025 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center aboard an LVM3 rocket - the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in LEO. Google invests $203.3M. stc group signs 10-year agreement with $175M prepayment. Raises $1.575B in convertible notes across two offerings. Total liquidity reaches $3.9B.
2024
BlueBird 1-5 launched; major partnerships secured
Launches first 5 commercial BlueBird satellites (693 sq ft arrays each) on September 12, 2024 from Cape Canaveral. Secures $100M Verizon partnership and Vodafone commercial contract through 2034, and completes test calls with AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Rakuten and Bell.
2023
First space-based call to unmodified smartphone
Achieves the first-ever two-way voice call from space to a standard, unmodified smartphone on April 25, 2023 - a call from Midland, Texas to Rakuten in Japan over AT&T spectrum using a Samsung Galaxy S22, with Vodafone, Rakuten and AT&T engineers involved - a historic milestone for direct-to-cell satellite communications.
2022
BlueWalker 3 prototype launched
Launches BlueWalker 3, a prototype satellite with a massive 64 sq meter (693 sq ft) phased array antenna, on September 10, 2022, unfurling it on November 14, 2022. The satellite successfully deploys the largest commercial communications array ever in LEO at the time.
2021
IPO via SPAC merger
AST SpaceMobile goes public through a SPAC merger with New Providence Acquisition Corp, raising $462M. Trades on NASDAQ under ticker ASTS.
2017
Founded by Abel Avellan
Abel Avellan founds AST SpaceMobile with the goal of building a space-based cellular network that works with standard smartphones, eliminating coverage dead zones worldwide.
09
Funding
$5.3Bdisclosed across 8 rounds with a stated amount
Cumulative disclosed raise · dated rounds
RoundAmountInvestors
Series B
Mar 2020
$110M
Vodafone, Rakuten (led), plus Samsung Next, American Tower, and Cisneros
SPAC IPO
Apr 2021
$462M
New Providence Acquisition Corp
Strategic Investment
Jan-May 2024
$145M
AT&T, Google, Vodafone, Verizon
Convertible Notes
Jan 2025
$460M
Institutional investors
Google Investment + Convertible Notes
Jul 2025
$778.3M
Google ($203.3M), institutional investors ($575M)
Convertible Notes
Oct 2025
$1.15B
Institutional investors
Convertible Notes
Feb 2026
$1.075B (2.25% notes due 2036)
Institutional investors
Convertible Notes
Jul 2026
$1.15B (1.625% notes due 2034; upsized from $1.0B after initial purchasers exercised the full $150M greenshoe; capped-call effective conversion ~$149.20)
