Satellite Communication Startup CTO Sells Significant Shares, Cashing Out Billions

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) today disclosed that Chief Technology Officer Huiyuan Yao sold 40,000 shares of Class A common stock on March 23, 2026, at an average price of approximately $88.88 per share, netting about $3.6 million (roughly ₩4.7 billion). The sales were executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established on June 12, 2025, in multiple transactions between $86.71 and $90.70 per share. Following the sale, Yao retains just 4,750 shares of common stock. He had previously exercised options granted in October 2023 on March 11, acquiring 40,000 shares at about $0.06 per share—approximately $300,000 (₩400 million)—most of which he subsequently sold on the open market.

Founder and CEO Abel Avellan continues to hold roughly 78.16 million AST units convertible into common shares, representing about 20.8 percent of Class A shares and approximately 71.7 percent of voting power through Class C stock. The company reports no additional insider transactions or new activist initiatives within the past 60 days. This amended Schedule 13D filing serves solely to reflect dilution from recent equity and debt issuances.

In its Q4 2025 and full-year financial results release, AST SpaceMobile reaffirmed its plan to deploy 45–60 BlueBird satellites by the end of 2026. The company confirmed that BlueBird 7 is scheduled for launch in March 2026, with subsequent launches every one to two months thereafter. It also highlighted ongoing preparations for commercial service, including a partnership with France’s Orange to conduct satellite-to-cell-phone direct connectivity trials in Europe by late 2026.

Headquartered in Texas, AST SpaceMobile is building a cellular broadband network that enables unmodified smartphones to connect directly to satellites. The company has partnerships with more than 50 mobile operators worldwide, including AT&T and Verizon. After successfully launching the next-generation BlueBird 6 aboard an ISRO rocket, AST SpaceMobile received approval from the U.S. FCC for additional satellite launches and trial services, positioning it for full commercial rollout in 2026.