SpaceMobile Broadband Satellite Constellation Aims to Go Live in 2023

Satellite broadband startup AST wants U.S. market access for its planned 243-satellite constellation licensed by Papua New Guinea, with operations expected to begin in 2023, it said in an FCC International Bureau petition Monday. It asked for authorization to use the V band for gateway communications and to use some LTE frequencies. It said its low earth orbit constellation can provide broadband access to any handset and any LTE or 5G enabled device without modifications or use of special chipsets, and that it plans to partner with carriers, allowing them to provide nationwide 5G coverage even in places without terrestrial infrastructure. It said it has partnership agreements with multiple global mobile network operators. AST said it has raised $128 million, enough to fund its next test satellite, a buildout of its Texas satellite manufacturing facility and launch of the first tranche of 18 of its SpaceMobile satellites in 2021. It said investors include American Tower, Rakuten and Vodafone.