The AST SpaceMobile satellites will depart from a launch web site in Cape Canaveral, Florida in September
Satellite tv for pc direct-to-cellular firm AST SpaceMobile has accomplished development of its first 5 Bluebird low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and introduced a cargo scheduled for the primary week of August, adopted by a September launch within the U.S.
The 5 satellites heading to area have been constructed on the profitable orbit checks of BlueWalker 3 satellite tv for pc. As soon as up there, acknowledged Abel Avellan, chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, they are going to present U.S. “nationwide non-continuous service” with greater than 5,600 cells in low-band spectrum, with a 10-fold enhance in processing bandwidth. “Finishing the manufacturing, meeting, and environmental testing for these satellites represents a major milestone in our mission to bridge the digital divide and ship connectivity to those that want it most,” he continued. “We’re wanting to see these pioneering satellites take flight and start laying the inspiration for our international mobile broadband community.” Within the U.S., the corporate will use Verizon and AT&T’s 850MHz spectrum.
AT&T, Verizon and Google are all U.S.-based strategic traders in AST SpaceMobile. Additional, Google is working with the corporate on joint work on product growth, testing and implementation of the satellite tv for pc tech on Android units.
In September of final 12 months, AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone — one other key accomplice and monetary backer — efficiently accomplished a space-based 5G voice name, which occurred from Hawaii to José Guevara utilizing an unmodified Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone and AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 check satellite tv for pc.
Whereas a precise launch date for the 5 Bluebirds has not been specified, the corporate did share that the satellites, geared up with communications arrays measuring 693 sq. ft, will depart from a launch web site in Cape Canaveral, Florida.