AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile, founded in 2017 and based in Texas, is building a space-based cellular network designed to connect directly to standard mobile phones. The company is deploying large phased-array BlueBird satellites to deliver 4G/5G broadband coverage to remote and underserved regions worldwide by communicating directly with unmodified smartphones. AST SpaceMobile has partnered with major telecom operators like AT&T, Vodafone, and others to integrate satellite connectivity with terrestrial mobile networks. The company went public in 2021 and has expanded its manufacturing operations, employing around 1,800 people as of 2025.