AT&T and Verizon’s satellite partner hopes to launch a closed beta soon, but the service will be intermittent.
While T-Mobile is proceeding full steam ahead with its direct-to-cell service, a comparable program from AT&T and Verizon has yet to take off. T-Mobile has teamed up with spaceflight firm SpaceX to provide connectivity from space in dead zones. AT&T and Verizon have partnered with satellite designer and manufacturer AST SpaceMobile.
AST’s chief Abel Avellan had a discussion with technology conglomerate Rakuten’s CEO Mickey Mikitani during the MWC about his company’s space-based cellular network.
While the company has flexed its technological muscle several times in the past by carrying out demonstrations, it has only six satellites in orbit at the moment. For launching its initial service, it’s going to need 45 of its BlueBird satellites in space. It is building 53 satellites and is „committed to 60 launches.“
The company aims to launch full continuous service by next year. Meanwhile, T-Mobile’s service is in beta right now and will be launched commercially in July with SpaceX’s 515 satellites.
Some analysts, including Mobile Experts‘ Joe Madden, believe that AST’s 60 satellites will be just enough for providing coverage to the US. For global customers, it would need more – at least 95.
AST has larger antennas than SpaceX’s Starlink, but there are more of the latter’s satellites in space.
