AST SpaceMobile, Inc.
| Public | |
| Traded as | NASDAQ: ASTS |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Satellite telecommunication |
| Founded 📆 | |
| Founder 👔 | Abel Avellan |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | , , |
Area served 🗺️ | Worldwide |
| Products 📟 | AST SpaceMobile |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| Subsidiaries | NanoAvionics |
| 🌐 Website | ast-science |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. is an American space infrastructure company attempting to create the first space-based cellular broadband network.[1] The company is headquartered at the Midland International Air and Space Port in Texas.[2]
In 2019, the startup launched an experimental satellite called BlueWalker 1.[3] AST SpaceMobile claims its forthcoming satellite constellation will connect to standard mobile phones anywhere on earth, land or sea.[4]
AST SpaceMobile was previously known as AST & Science. The company changed its name in 2021 after listing on the Nasdaq.[5][6]
History[edit]
Abel Avellan, an American space entrepreneur, founded AST SpaceMobile in 2017.[7] Avellan seeded the company with $6 million shortly after another satellite company he founded, Emerging Markets Communications, was acquired for $550 million.[8][9]
In 2018, AST SpaceMobile purchased a controlling interest in NanoAvionics, a Lithuanian satellite manufacturer and integrator.[10] NanoAvionics built a small test spacecraft for AST SpaceMobile called BlueWalker 1, which reached orbit via India's PSLV-C45 launch vehicle on April 1, 2019.[11][12]
In March 2020, AST SpaceMobile announced it had raised $110 million in Series B funding.[13][14] The company simultaneously claimed it could provide a low-latency, wireless broadband internet service called SpaceMobile to standard mobile phone handsets and other cellular devices without a satellite dish or other specialized equipment.[15]
In December 2020, AST SpaceMobile announced a planned merger with New Providence Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, to create a new publicly traded company with an equity value of $1.8 billion.[16][17][18] Key backers and industry partners include Vodafone, Rakuten, Samsung, and American Tower.[19] The transaction closed on April 1, 2021, providing approximately $462 million in new funding.[20][21] AST SpaceMobile claims the deal will provide enough funding to launch 20 production satellites and begin generating revenue in 2023.[22]
Network[edit]
In 2019, AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 1 demonstration mission tested the concept of providing space-based cellular service by setting up a large antenna on the ground, which was designed simulate a satellite in space, and launching a small cellular platform on a 6U-CubeSat into orbit.[23][24][25]The test used an experimental license with AT&T.[26] AST SpaceMobile claimed the test showed it is feasible to create a mobile broadband service that directly connects phones to the internet from space.[27]
In April 2020, AST SpaceMobile filed an application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to operate 243 production satellites in low-Earth orbit.[28][29] The company wants to deploy the spacecraft in 16 orbital planes at altitudes ranging between 725 and 740 kilometers over several years.
By the end of 2021, AST SpaceMobile plans to launch a $48 million follow-on test mission called BlueWalker 3.[30][31] The mission will consist of a modular 1.5-ton spacecraft designed to model forthcoming production satellites, though at a smaller scale.[32]
AST SpaceMobile plans to lease wireless radio spectrum from Vodafone, AT&T, Telefonica, and other mobile network operators.[33] AST SpaceMobile claims it can expand its partners' terrestrial cellular networks to a global range.[34]
The company plans to share revenues with its business-to-business partners and customers.[35] Customers would be prompted to opt in to SpaceMobile service via SMS text message once they leave the range of a partner's terrestrial network.[36]
Initially, AST SpaceMobile intends to offer connectivity in equatorial regions of Earth, primarily in developing areas, and reach about 9 million subscribers for an average monthly cost of $1 per user.[37][38] The company projects serving 373 million subscribers globally with 233 satellites in 2027.[39]
Commentary[edit]
In October 2020, NASA filed a comment to the FCC in response to AST SpaceMobile's application.[40] The US space agency claimed SpaceMobile would create "an unacceptably high risk of a catastrophic debris-producing collision" in orbit.[41]
However, in November 2020, NASA filed a follow-up comment to the FCC announcing its new collaboration with AST SpaceMobile on the safe operation of SpaceMobile.[42] In the filing, NASA praised AST SpaceMobile's cooperation and told the FCC it "has no concern with the issuance of the requested license."
Funding[edit]
- January 2017 Seed - $6 million Abel Avellan[43]
- July 2018 Series A - $10 million Grupo Cisneros[44]
- March 2000 Series B - $110 million Vodafone, Rakuten, American Tower, Samsung Next[43]
- April 2021 SPAC - $462 million New Providence Acquisition Corp. a special-purpose acquisition company[45]
References[edit]
- ↑ "AST SpaceMobile CEO on competition and space-based broadband".
- ↑ "Rakuten and Vodafone Invest in SpaceMobile, a LEO Cell Service".
- ↑ "Indian military satellite, 20 more Planet imaging CubeSats launched by PSLV".
- ↑ "A new firm says it can link satellites to ordinary smartphones".
- ↑ "AST&Science; LLC".
- ↑ "AST SpaceMobile shares rise as the space SPAC stock begins trading on the Nasdaq".
- ↑ "Satellite-to-smartphone broadband company AST & Science to go public through a SPAC".
- ↑ "AST SpaceMobile Investor Presentation" (PDF).
- ↑ "Global Eagle Makes $550 Million Acquisition of EMC".
- ↑ "Megaconstellation startup raises $110 million to connect smartphones via satellite".
- ↑ "Indian military satellite, 20 more Planet imaging CubeSats launched by PSLV".
- ↑ "BlueWalker 1, 2 (BW 1, 2)".
- ↑ "Megaconstellation startup raises $110 million to connect smartphones via satellite".
- ↑ "This Satellite Startup Raised $110 Million To Make Your Cellphone Work Everywhere".
- ↑ "A new firm says it can link satellites to ordinary smartphones".
- ↑ "AST SpaceMobile Investor Presentation" (PDF).
- ↑ "AST & Science to go public via special purpose acquisition".
- ↑ "Satellite-to-smartphone broadband company AST & Science to go public through a SPAC".
- ↑ "AST SpaceMobile Investor Presentation" (PDF).
- ↑ "Form 8-K".
- ↑ "AST SpaceMobile shares rise as the space SPAC stock begins trading on the Nasdaq".
- ↑ "Satellite-to-smartphone broadband company AST & Science to go public through a SPAC".
- ↑ "A new firm says it can link satellites to ordinary smartphones".
- ↑ "AST & Science Announces Majority Investment in NanoAvionics".
- ↑ "AST & Science - FCC Filing".
- ↑ "AST & Science - FCC Filing".
- ↑ "A new firm says it can link satellites to ordinary smartphones".
- ↑ "AST & Science - FCC Filing".
- ↑ "AST & Science - FCC Filing".
- ↑ "Satellite-to-smartphone broadband company AST & Science to go public through a SPAC".
- ↑ "BlueWalker 3 (BW 3)".
- ↑ "Texas satellite company defends itself against NASA criticisms".
- ↑ "AST & Science - FCC Filing".
- ↑ "AST SpaceMobile CEO on competition and space-based broadband".
- ↑ "AST CEO Avellan Wants to Go Where No Broadband Has Been Before".
- ↑ "'Life-saving technology': AST SpaceMobile CEO outlines capabilities of direct-to-smartphone LEO satellite service".
- ↑ "AST SpaceMobile Investor Presentation" (PDF).
- ↑ "Vodafone, AT&T sign up for 5G via SpaceMobile's satellites".
- ↑ "Vodafone, AT&T sign up for 5G via SpaceMobile's satellites".
- ↑ "AST & Science - FCC Filing".
- ↑ "Texas satellite company defends itself against NASA criticisms".
- ↑ "AST & Science - FCC Filing".
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 "AST SpaceMobile Investor Presentation" (PDF). New Providence Acquisition Corp.
- ↑ "Onwards and Upwards … connecting the world through SpaceMobile". Adriana Cisneros.
- ↑ "New Providence Acquisition Corp. Stockholders Approve Business Combination with AST & Science". Business Wire.
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