AST SpaceMobile (ASTS.US) three "space base station" satellites are about to launch, directly connecting to smartphones to expand and speed up the network.

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS.US) announced that its BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 satellites are scheduled to launch into orbit on June 17, 2026, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch window is targeted for 2:39 AM Eastern Time, with a window period extending until 4:15 AM. This mission will deploy three next-generation BlueBird satellites, aimed at expanding AST SpaceMobile's direct-to-device broadband network. This network can directly provide voice, data, and video connection services to regular, unmodified smartphones. AST SpaceMobile stated that the peak data transmission rate of the new generation satellites is expected to be nearly double that of the first-generation Block 1 BlueBird satellites. A larger antenna array means stronger signal gain and higher data transfer rates. The first-generation satellites have recently achieved download speeds of up to 98.9 Mbps directly to smartphones. Like the currently orbiting BlueBird 6 satellite, the BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 satellites are all equipped with a communication array of approximately 2400 square feet, making it one of the largest commercial communication arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit. As a result of this news, AST SpaceMobile's stock price rose, with a pre-market increase of 7.54% to $99 at the time of writing. Established in 2017, AST SpaceMobile is headquartered in the Midland area of Texas, USA, and is the only publicly traded company globally focused on satellite direct-to-device (D2D) broadband services for smartphones. Its core technology involves low Earth orbit satellites acting as "space mobile base stations," directly using cellular spectrum from partners to allow regular smartphones to receive 4G/5G signals in areas where traditional signals cannot reach, such as mountains, oceans, or deserts. The company follows a "co-build with MNOs" approach and has established partnerships with nearly 60 global mobile network operators, covering over 3 billion potential users. AST SpaceMobile has partnered with nearly 60 mobile network operators globally, covering over 3 billion potential users, including AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone Group Plc Sponsored ADR, Telus, Orange, Telefonica SA Sponsored ADR, and other mainstream operators. In 2025, the company signed definitive commercial agreements with AT&T and Verizon, with Verizon also being one of AST's investors.