Flordia: FCC grants AST SpaceMobile license to launch commercial satellites

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted AST SpaceMobile a license to launch and operate V, S, and UHF frequencies to support gateway, feeder link, and telemetry, tracking, and control operations for the first five commercial satellites later this year.

Scott Wisniewski, president of AST SpaceMobile said: "This regulatory milestone is a significant step to targeting 100 percent nationwide coverage from space of the continental United States on premium cellular spectrum. Through our strategic partnerships with companies like AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, and our other key partners around the world, we aim to enhance cellular connectivity globally, essentially eliminating dead zones and empowering remote areas with space-based cellular broadband connectivity.”

Vikram Raval, head of global regulatory affairs, added: “The FCC grant paves the way for commercial space-based broadband services in the United States. By approving the launch of our first five BlueBirds, the largest-ever commercial communications arrays to be deployed in low Earth orbit, the FCC has taken a significant step forward for both AST SpaceMobile and U.S. leadership in space."