Agreement to provide space-based direct-to-device connectivity to everyday cell phones further expands strategic partnership announced in May 2024

AST SpaceMobile, Inc., the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, today announced the signing of a definitive commercial agreement with Verizon (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) to provide direct-to-cellular AST SpaceMobile service when needed for Verizon customers starting in 2026. This service will further enhance Verizon’s already expansive and award-winning network, building upon the exceptional service and ubiquitous connectivity customers currently enjoy.

The combination of Verizon’s highly reliable terrestrial mobile network, the use of premium multi-operator 850 MHz cellular spectrum, and AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation space-based cellular network in low Earth orbit, is planned to enable cellular customers to stay connected wherever they are, from hiking trails to city centers and everywhere in between.

Featuring the largest-ever commercial communications arrays deployed in low Earth orbit, AST SpaceMobile’s network can connect directly to everyday smartphones, eliminating the need for specialized equipment. AST SpaceMobile’s network is designed to operate across premium low-band spectrum, the company’s own licensed L-band and S-band spectrum, and up to 1,150 MHz of mobile network operator partners’ low- and mid-band spectrum, globally. These capabilities advance AST SpaceMobile’s efforts toward commercial service.

“Through our definitive commercial agreement with Verizon, we are working to deliver space-based cellular broadband coverage from space across the continental United States,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “The agreement will extend the scope of Verizon’s 850 MHz premium low-band spectrum into areas of the U.S. that would benefit from the ubiquitous reach of space-based broadband technology.”

Proven Technology Through Successful Trials

This agreement follows testing milestones that have proven the capabilities of the AST SpaceMobile network. In a recent demonstration, the companies successfully completed direct voice and video calls, as well as two-way RCS messaging, between standard, unmodified smartphones and a BlueBird satellite in space. A crystal-clear Voice over LTE (VoLTE) call was made from a smartphone on Verizon’s network in Texas, connecting via an AST SpaceMobile satellite to another Verizon smartphone in New Jersey. These successful tests represent a significant leap in satellite-to-cellular technology and pave the way for a future of ubiquitous connectivity.

“This partnership with AST SpaceMobile is a good step forward in our mission to build a seamlessly connected world. We are not just filling in the map; we are creating a new paradigm of connectivity that will unlock the full potential of the digital age,” said Srini Kalapala, Senior Vice President of Technology and Product Development at Verizon. “By integrating our expansive, reliable, robust terrestrial network with this innovative space-based technology, we are paving the way for a future where everything and everyone can be connected, regardless of geography.”

Source: BUSINESS WIRE