AST SpaceMobile targets 45 satellites after FCC approval
AST SpaceMobile provided its Q1 2026 financial results, reporting $14.7 million in revenue and projecting full-year 2026 revenue of $150-200 million. The company announced the next orbital launch of BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 in mid-June, targeting approximately 45 satellites in orbit during 2026, and achieved 98.9 Mbps peak data speeds via its in-orbit Block 1 BlueBird satellite. The FCC also authorized commercial SpaceMobile Service in the United States for direct-to-device broadband connectivity.
Key Takeaways
- First-quarter 2026 revenue was $14.7 million, with products revenue of $13.4 million and services revenue of $1.3 million.
- AST SpaceMobile is targeting about 45 satellites in orbit during 2026, with BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 scheduled for mid-June on a Falcon 9.
- The FCC granted Supplemental Coverage from Space authority for commercial SpaceMobile Service in the United States for direct-to-device broadband connectivity.
- The company reported 98.9 Mbps peak data speeds from an in-orbit Block 1 BlueBird satellite over international waters.
- AST said it has nearly 60 global mobile network operator partners covering over 3 billion subscribers, including Telus, Bell Canada, Axian Telecom, Vodacom, Orange, and MTN.
Why It Matters
AST SpaceMobile now has two concrete milestones in hand: FCC authorization for U.S. commercial service and a near-term launch plan for BlueBird 8 through 10. That combination matters because the company is moving from testing and partnerships toward scaled deployment, while still reporting only $14.7 million in quarterly revenue. The partner list and 2.9 billion-person ground-integration target show the service footprint it is trying to build across multiple markets. Watch for the mid-June Falcon 9 launch and whether the company reaches its stated 2026 target of roughly 45 satellites in orbit.
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