LA PLATA, Maryland — Satellite direct-to-device startup AST SpaceMobile, which plans to launch its first five commercial satellites in early 2024, said it will need to raise $600 million to design, build and launch the additional satellite capacity needed to provide service to high-priority regions.
AST SpaceMobile said its BW3 test satellite, launched in September 2022, has proven the service’s ability to provide broadband connectivity directly to unmodified smartphones from low Earth orbit, at speeds of 14 Mbps.
The company now plans to launch five commercial Block 1 Bluebird satellites, using much of the same . . .
To view the entire article, become a subscriber!
