Overview
- AST SpaceMobile confirmed BlueBird 6 deployed what it calls the largest commercial communications array in low-Earth orbit.
- The phased array is designed for peak data rates up to 120 megabytes per second and supports 10 gigahertz of bandwidth, connecting directly to unmodified handsets.
- Company materials highlight beamforming to focus coverage and manage spectrum alongside terrestrial mobile networks.
- AST SpaceMobile plans 45 to 60 additional next‑generation satellites by the end of 2026, with on‑orbit testing of BlueBird 6 now underway.
- The company cites agreements with more than 50 mobile operators, including AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone and Rakuten, even as astronomers warn the satellites’ brightness will hinder observations and alter views of the night sky.