AST SpaceMobile just scored a major win in the battle for satellite-to-phone dominance. The Federal Communications Commission approved the company’s request to operate its entire 248-satellite constellation and provide cellular coverage from space across the United States and beyond.
This approval puts AST SpaceMobile in direct competition with SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile service. The FCC noted that AST’s satellite technology can deliver connectivity to consumer devices in cellular dead zones, addressing a persistent problem for mobile users in remote areas. The timing is significant – the satellite-to-phone market is heating up rapidly, with Amazon recently announcing an $11 billion acquisition of Globalstar and SpaceX pushing major upgrades to its own mobile satellite service.
The FCC’s Tuesday decision marks a substantial expansion from 2024, when regulators only cleared AST to operate five BlueBird satellites while deferring on commercial service approval. Now the company can launch its full constellation at low-Earth orbits around 530 kilometers and actually sell services to consumers.
AST’s satellites stand out for their massive antennas. Each BlueBird satellite acts as an orbiting cell tower capable of delivering voice, data, and video directly to regular smartphones without any modifications. The company has partnerships with major US carriers AT&T and Verizon, though the FCC approval only covers lower frequency bands from 698MHz to 960MHz rather than the mid-band spectrum AST acquired last year.
The approval comes with some controversy. The FCC is allowing AST to use amateur radio frequencies between 430-440MHz for emergency satellite control, despite objections from ham radio operators worried about interference. The commission imposed strict conditions, limiting AST to specific frequencies and capping emergency use at 24 hours. Regulators determined that harmful interference is “extremely unlikely” and noted they haven’t received complaints about AST’s existing operations in those bands.
AST faces significant deployment challenges despite the regulatory green light. The company suffered a setback on Sunday when a Blue Origin rocket failed to deliver one of its BlueBird satellites to the correct orbit, causing it to burn up in the atmosphere. Currently, AST has only six BlueBird satellites operational, plus an original test satellite. The company needs 45 to 60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026 to provide robust US coverage.
The satellite launch bottleneck could determine whether AST can capitalize on its FCC approval. The company is already producing its 32nd BlueBird satellite and expects satellites 8-10 to be ready for shipment within 30 days. However, AST originally planned four orbital launches by the end of Q1 2026, and Sunday’s failed mission highlights the risks in satellite deployment.
This FCC decision reshapes the competitive landscape for satellite-based mobile services. While SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile is currently available through T-Mobile with limited bandwidth, AST’s approval with AT&T and Verizon partnerships creates multiple competing networks. The race is now on to see which company can deploy enough satellites to offer reliable commercial service first.