The first five commercial satellites, called BlueBirds, each featuring the largest ever commercial communications arrays will be deployed in low Earth orbit.
AST SpaceMobile, the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, has announced that its first five commercial satellites, called BlueBirds, have arrived in Cape Canaveral, Florida, ahead of the planned orbital launch during a seven-day launch window in September.
The launch of AST SpaceMobile’s upcoming satellites is targeted on or after September 12 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The exact timing of orbital launch is subject to change based on a number of factors, including launch readiness of the launch provider, weather conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.
The BlueBird satellites feature reportedly the largest-ever commercial communications arrays to be deployed in low Earth orbit, at a remarkable 693 sqft, a technological leap forward in AST SpaceMobile’s ability to deliver seamless cellular broadband connectivity to billions of mobile users worldwide.
Building on the success of its BlueWalker 3 satellite, AST SpaceMobile’s first five commercial satellites will have a tenfold increase in processing capacity. This advancement sets the stage for delivering global space-based cellular broadband directly to everyday smartphones, starting with non-continuous coverage across the continental United States using over 5,600 cells on premium low-band spectrum.
“These satellites represent years of relentless innovation,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, “We are excited to take yet another step towards bridging the digital divide on a global scale with space-based cellular broadband.”
These first five commercial satellites were built in AST SpaceMobile state-of-the-art 185,000 sqft facilities in Midland, TX, specifically designed for satellite production. This advanced facility, equipped with cutting-edge technology, is a testament to AST SpaceMobile’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence.
During 2024, AST SpaceMobile has secured additional strategic investment from AT&T, Verizon, Google and Vodafone, as well as a new contract award with the United States Government through a prime contractor. The company has agreements with more than 45 mobile network operators globally, which have over 2.8bn existing subscribers total, including Vodafone Group, AT&T, Verizon, Rakuten Mobile, Bell Canada, Orange, Telefonica, TIM, Saudi Telecom Company, Zain KSA, Etisalat, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Telkomsel, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Millicom, Smartfren, Telecom Argentina, MTN, Telstra, Africell, Liberty Latin America and others.
Source: https://satelliteprome.com/news/spacex-set-to-launch-five-commercial-satellites-for-ast-spacemobile/