AST SpaceMobile has taken another step towards its goal of providing a space-based mobile communications network that turns a standard smartphone into a satellite phone without the need for additional hardware. After announcing that its network of five commercial satellites was scheduled to be launched into low Earth orbit on September 12, the successful launch took place this morning. You can watch the launch below. The 10-second countdown begins at 1:16:09 in the video.
The company’s five BlueBird satellites are equipped with communications arrays that aim to provide standard off-the-shelf smartphones with the same voice, data, and video speeds as broadband towers. Once in orbit, AST’s satellites will provide “discontinuous cellular broadband service across the U.S. and in select markets around the world.” The network will enable unmodified cell phones to function as satellite phones, allowing cell phone users to communicate in areas with limited broadband tower coverage, such as rural communities and national parks.
Initially, the BlueBird network will focus on serving beta test customers on the AT&T and Verizon networks. AST signed a deal with AT&T in May to provide satellite communications to its customers. The company also worked with AT&T to conduct the first successful two-way voice call over satellite in April 2023, followed by a successful 4G data download test in June 2023.
UPDATE, Sept. 12, 2024, 11:07 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to confirm that this morning’s launch was successful.
