AST SpaceMobile reported accelerating deployment of its low Earth orbit cellular broadband constellation, with BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 scheduled for launch in mid-June aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The company said it expects to have approximately 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by the end of 2026, supported by launch agreements with multiple providers including Blue Origin and SpaceX. Manufacturing operations are ramping rapidly, with BlueBird 11 through BlueBird 33 already in advanced production and assembly stages across more than 500,000 square feet (46,450 square meters) of manufacturing and operations facilities.
The company also disclosed a new peak throughput milestone of 98.9 Mbps achieved from an in-orbit Block 1 BlueBird satellite directly to an unmodified smartphone over international waters. AST SpaceMobile said its next-generation Block 2 BlueBird satellites are expected to nearly double those data rates. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission granted Supplemental Coverage from Space authorization for commercial SpaceMobile service using a constellation of up to 248 satellites, marking a major regulatory milestone for direct-to-device broadband operations.
AST SpaceMobile continues to expand its global mobile operator ecosystem, adding TELUS in Canada and Axian Telecom in Africa alongside existing partnerships with Vodacom, Orange, MTN Group, and nearly 60 global mobile network operators representing more than 3 billion subscribers. The company said it is conducting scaled ground integration efforts across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, India, Brazil, Spain, Germany, France, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal, covering a combined population of 2.9 billion people. AST SpaceMobile also disclosed work on AI edge computing and AI spectrum management capabilities targeted for satellite integration by year-end.
Profile: AST SpaceMobile in 2026
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Midland, Texas |
| Core Mission | Direct-to-device cellular broadband connectivity from low Earth orbit using standard, unmodified smartphones |
| 2026 Deployment Goal | Approximately 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit during 2026 |
| Current Satellite Production | BlueBird 11 through BlueBird 33 in advanced production and assembly stages |
| Manufacturing Footprint | More than 500,000 sq ft (46,450 sq m) of manufacturing and operations space globally |
| Micron Production Facility | Dedicated Texas facility operational with capacity for components supporting more than 10 satellites per month |
| Peak Demonstrated Throughput | 98.9 Mbps direct-to-smartphone from orbit |
| FCC Authorization | Approved for Supplemental Coverage from Space with up to 248 satellites in the U.S. |
| Mobile Operator Partners | Nearly 60 MNO partners covering over 3 billion subscribers |
| Launch Providers | SpaceX, Blue Origin, and additional launch providers |
| Intellectual Property | Approximately 3,900 patent and patent-pending claims |
| Cash Position | Approximately $3.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of March 31, 2026 |
| Q1 2026 Revenue | $14.7 million |
| 2026 Revenue Guidance | $150 million to $200 million |
