US Satellite Carrier Secures FCC Approval, Aiming for Direct Mobile Connections

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) announced Q1 2026 revenue of approximately $14.7 million—driven by gateway deliveries and the achievement of U.S. government milestones—while reaffirming full-year revenue guidance of $150 million to $200 million. The company reported a net loss of about $191 million for the quarter. Backed by roughly $3.5 billion in cash and capitalized investments in satellites, ground facilities, and spectrum, AST SpaceMobile reiterated its plan to deploy approximately 45 satellites into orbit during 2026.

In May, board member Julio Torres and CFO/General Counsel Andrew Johnson each sold several million dollars’ worth of shares to cover taxes on vested RSUs; both executives still retain substantial equity stakes.

Following the loss of its BlueBird 7 satellite due to an anomaly on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, AST SpaceMobile shifted its next three satellites to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, targeting a mid-June launch. The company also secured formal approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to offer commercial “Space-Based Complementary Coverage” services via a planned constellation of 248 direct-to-device satellites.

Under partnerships with major carriers including AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone, AST SpaceMobile has successfully demonstrated 4G and 5G voice and video calls on ordinary smartphones via its space network, moving closer to a commercial service launch.

Headquartered in Texas, AST SpaceMobile is developing its BlueBird low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation and the SpaceMobile network to deliver 4G and 5G connectivity directly to standard mobile devices. The satellite-based mobile communications market—featuring competitors such as the SpaceX–T-Mobile alliance—is gaining traction as next-generation infrastructure to eliminate “dead zones” in remote, maritime, and disaster-affected regions, drawing strong interest from regulators and major carriers worldwide.