Overview
- Telus confirmed a commercial agreement and equity investment in AST SpaceMobile to extend connectivity beyond terrestrial networks.
- The partners target late 2026 for service that lets existing LTE and 5G smartphones text, call, and use data in areas without towers.
- The move places Telus alongside Bell on AST’s BlueBird approach, while Rogers is pursuing SpaceX/Starlink direct-to-cell service at $15 per month in Canada.
- AST says it has agreements with about 50 mobile operators representing nearly 3 billion potential subscribers, though only six commercial satellites are currently operational.
- The next BlueBird satellite launch is slated for March on Blue Origin’s New Glenn, with broader coverage depending on further deployments and integration.