AST SpaceMobile Expands BlueBird Tests Across Eight European Countries
The company is linking its Block 1 satellites to major mobile operators through carrier‑neutral gateways to move closer to phone‑to‑satellite service while regulatory approvals remain pending.
Overview
- AST SpaceMobile said Thursday it has broadened BlueBird network integration testing to Britain, Ireland, Romania, France, Czechia, Germany, Spain and Ukraine with support from Vodafone, Orange, Telefónica, Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone Ukraine.
- The company reported peak download speeds of 98.9 Mbps in Block 1 in‑orbit tests that used phased‑array antennas to connect standard smartphones without extra hardware or special apps.
- Satellite Connect Europe is rolling out carrier‑neutral gateways from Luxembourg to link AST’s orbital assets to terrestrial carrier networks and to let multiple operators access the satellite path without building bespoke ground nodes.
- AST says it now works with nearly 60 mobile operators whose combined networks cover roughly three billion subscribers and it is continuing BlueBird satellite launches while planning next‑generation satellites targeting about double current peak speeds.
- Shares rose about 4.8% after the European expansion was announced, but the firm and its partners say commercial service will hinge on additional testing, more satellites in orbit and market‑by‑market regulatory clearances.