Rendering of five BlueBird satellites from AST SpaceMobile unfolded in space. Photo: AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile can now test its satellite-to-cell service with partners Verizon and AT&T after the FCC granted the company special temporal authority (STA) in the United States. 

AST SpaceMobile announced the STA approval from the FCC on Jan. 31, explaining this enables the company’s five BlueBird satellites to start testing communications with unmodified smartphones using AT&T and Verizon wireless spectrum. 

The company has already validated its satellite-to-cell technology with its BlueWalker 3 test satellite in tests in 2023. But the five BlueBird satellites, launched in September of 2024, are the first commercial satellites for AST SpaceMobile. The company said these five satellites will provide 5,600 coverage cells over the U.S. for “non-continuous cellular broadband service.” 

“The FCC U.S. regulatory approvals represent a pivotal moment for AST SpaceMobile as we advance toward delivering seamless space-based cellular broadband connectivity,” said Vikram Raval, global head of Regulatory Affairs of AST SpaceMobile.

The company has commercial agreements with both Verizon and AT&T to provide space-based cellular broadband to their customers through a revenue share model.

The company said that in addition to integrating with partner networks, it is also installing five gateways in the U.S. 

Also this week, U.K. telco Vodafone announced it made a video call via the BlueBird satellites using an unmodified 4G/5G smartphone, the first video call of its kind. A Vodafone engineer made the mobile video call from a remote area of Wales to Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle, via AST SpaceMobile satellites. Vodafone is a longtime investor and partner of AST SpaceMobile.