Starlink competitor AST SpaceMobile launched its Bluebird smartphone satellites this morning

AST SpaceMobile is taking one other step towards its aim of offering a space-based cellular communications community — one that may flip any customary smartphone right into a satellite tv for pc telephone, no further {hardware} required. After announcing that its community of 5 industrial satellites is scheduled to launch into low-Earth orbit on September 12, the launch happened efficiently this morning. You may watch the launch under; the 10-second countdown begins at 1:16:09 within the video.

The corporate’s 5 BlueBird satellites are outfitted with communications arrays that intention to offer customary off-the-shelf smartphones with the identical voice, knowledge and video speeds as a broadband tower. As soon as in orbit, AST’s satellites will present “non-continuous mobile broadband service throughout the US and in choose markets globally.” The community can enable unmodified cell phones to behave as satellite tv for pc telephones, which would supply an possibility for cell customers to speak even in areas with restricted broadband tower protection, equivalent to rural communities or nationwide parks.

Initially, this BlueBird community can be targeted on servicing beta take a look at prospects from the AT&T and Verizon networks. AST landed a deal with AT&T in Might to supply satellite tv for pc communication to its prospects. The corporate additionally labored with AT&T to finish its first profitable two-way voice name over its satellites in April 2023, adopted by a profitable 4G knowledge obtain take a look at in June 2023.

Replace, September 12 2024, 11:07AM ET: This story has been up to date to substantiate that the launch happened efficiently this morning.