AST SpaceMobile launches services agreements securing orbital launch capacity

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) “announced launch services agreements securing the orbital launch capacity to enable continuous space-based cellular broadband service coverage across some of the most in-demand cellular markets globally. AST SpaceMobile’s global service will initially target key markets such as the United States, Europe, Japan, the U.S. Government and other strategic markets. The Cape Canaveral Florida Space Force Station launch campaign, scheduled during 2025 and 2026, will utilize existing launch vehicles and Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket for up to ~60 Block 2 satellites to low Earth orbit. The next-generation Block 2 BlueBirds are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird satellites in orbit today, accelerating the goal to achieve 24/7 continuous cellular broadband service coverage. The service will target approximately 100% U.S. nationwide coverage from space with over 5,600 coverage cells, with beams designed to support a capacity of up to 40 MHz, enabling peak data transmission speeds up to 120 Mbps, supporting voice, full data and video applications. The Block 2 BlueBirds, featuring up to 2,400 square foot communications arrays, will be the largest ever commercially deployed in low Earth orbit once launched, surpassing the current record held by AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 1-5 and BlueWalker 3, each ~700 square feet in size.”