Gadgets

Starlink competitor AST SpaceMobile launched its Bluebird smartphone satellites this morning

AST SpaceMobile takes another step towards its goal of providing a mobile communications network in space – one that can turn any standard smartphone into a satellite phone, no additional hardware required. After announcing that its network of five commercial satellites is scheduled to launch into low Earth orbit on September 12, the launch was a success this morning. You can watch the presentation below; the 10-second countdown starts at 1:16:09 in the video.

The company’s five BlueBird satellites are equipped with communications systems that aim to provide off-the-shelf smartphones with the same voice, data and video speeds as a broadband tower. Once in orbit, the AST satellites will provide “uninterrupted mobile broadband service throughout the United States and select markets around the world.” The network would allow unmodified cell phones to function as satellite phones, which would allow cell phone users to communicate even in areas with limited broadband towers, such as rural communities or national parks.

Initially, the BlueBird network will focus on serving beta test customers from the AT&T and Verizon networks. AST struck a deal with AT&T in May to provide its customers with satellite communications. The company also worked with AT&T to complete its first successful two-way voice call via its satellites in April 2023, followed by a successful 4G data download test in June 2023.

Update, September 12 2024, 11:07AM ET: This story has been updated to confirm that the launch was successful this morning.


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