Overview
- Telus confirmed a commercial agreement with AST SpaceMobile, an undisclosed equity stake, and funding for ground infrastructure to extend texting, calling and data beyond terrestrial coverage.
- The partners aim to connect unmodified smartphones in remote parts of Canada starting in late 2026, contingent on satellite deployments and regulatory clearances.
- AST reported Q4 2025 revenue of $54.3 million and full-year revenue of $70.9 million with nearly $4 billion in liquidity, and the stock rose following the earnings beat and Telus’s backing.
- BlueBird‑6 has unfolded its large Block 2 antenna in orbit, BlueBird‑7 is scheduled to launch this month on Blue Origin’s New Glenn, and AST targets at least 45 Block 2 satellites by end‑2026 with intermittent service after the first ~25.
- AST says it has 50+ mobile operator agreements and over $1 billion in minimum committed revenue, as spectrum plans involving Ligado draw objections from rival operators and industry groups.