(Credit: AST SpaceMobile)
AST SpaceMobile can finally start testing its BlueBird satellites with AT&T phones in the US.
The FCC today issued a special temporary authority to AST SpaceMobile, giving the company until May 30 to test the BlueBird satellites using AT&T’s network spectrum.
AST SpaceMobile launched and deployed the five BlueBird satellites in Earth’s orbit last fall with the goal of delivering high-speed internet to consumer phones on the ground. However, the company has been waiting since November for FCC approval to officially sanction the first test operations through the satellites.
Thursday’s approval means the Texas-based startup can test the satellites on specific AT&T-licensed radio bands across the US. In its application, AST SpaceMobile mentioned using the cellular capabilities with up to 2,000 "end user handsets" for AT&T.
“AST SpaceMobile will aggressively look for opportunities to provide such service pursuant to experimental authority, and hopes to simultaneously provide immediate help to first responders,” the company added in its application, signaling it plans on beta-testing the satellite capability with select users.
AST SpaceMobile didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, making it unclear when it'll kick off the test operations. But the approval represents one step in its ongoing journey to use dozens of BlueBird satellites to beam high-speed data to phones across the globe. The company has applied for the same test authority with its other US partner, Verizon, but the FCC still hasn’t released clearance.
The other hurdle is that AST SpaceMobile still needs to launch 45 to 60 satellites before it can begin offering continuous coverage over the US. In addition, the company needs to receive full FCC clearance to commercially operate the satellites on a permanent basis.
In the meantime, rival SpaceX has already secured FCC approval for its own cellular Starlink service for phones. The company has been partnering with T-Mobile to deliver satellite connectivity to its users. This month, T-Mobile began inviting select subscribers to test the technology for free through a beta program in the US. For now, it only supports satellite-based text messaging, although voice and data support will arrive over time.
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