AST SpaceMobile has pushed back its direct-to-device satellite launch schedule again. The delay affects mobile operators waiting to sell satellite-based phone coverage.
The company now targets about 45 satellites in orbit by mid-2027. It previously aimed to reach that number by the end of this year. Today, it operates 13 satellites.
That target matters because 45 satellites could support continuous US coverage. Until then, service will remain limited when satellites pass overhead.
Still, AST SpaceMobile wants early coverage by year-end. It targets the US, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the UK. The company calls this “intermittent” coverage for strategic partners.
Scott Wisniewski, president and chief strategy officer, described the service clearly. Mobile partners will get “nationwide availability when a satellite is overhead,” he said.
The next launch steps now depend on outside rocket providers. Three satellites are waiting for SpaceX to confirm a launch date. Another three should ship in November for a Blue Origin mission early next year.
That launch would hold extra importance for Blue Origin. It would mark its return after a New Glenn explosion in May.
Meanwhile, five more satellites should launch in early 2027. That mission supports a US government program. It would bring AST SpaceMobile closer to 25 satellites in orbit.
Mobile operator trials should start early next year. Those tests matter for companies such as AT&T and Verizon. Both want direct satellite links for ordinary phones.
“We think that those beta trials are best with about 25 satellites, although there’s some flexibility there. But for us, our long-held target has been to light up that network for them, and that’s what we’re focused on right now with beta to follow shortly thereafter, early in the year,” said Wisniewski.
The opportunity remains attractive for operators and users. Satellite-to-phone service could fill coverage gaps in rural areas. It could also support emergency calls beyond tower range.
However, the slower schedule creates commercial pressure. Operators cannot sell full services until the network grows. Rivals in satellite connectivity are also moving quickly.
To reduce launch uncertainty, AST SpaceMobile plans its own reusable rocket. The company calls it Blacklift. It expects flights to begin in late 2028.
Blacklift should carry up to five satellites per mission. AST SpaceMobile will use engines from Firefly Aerospace. The company says this approach gives it more control.
“We are not buying just any rocket engine technology nor are we starting from scratch. The [Firefly] Miranda engine leverages an architecture with over a decade of development and proven flight heritage, immediately kick starting Blacklift development with a massive leap forward,” said Wisniewski.
For telecom operators, the strategy offers promise and risk. More launch control could speed deployment later. Yet building rockets adds complexity to an already difficult satellite rollout.
