All articles tagged with #direct to device connectivity
AST SpaceMobile announced the successful orbital launch of BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 from Cape Canaveral aboard a Falcon 9, with the 2,400-square-foot arrays enabling direct-to-smartphone cellular broadband and paving the way for commercial service, while upcoming BlueBirds 11–13 and next-generation satellites remain in production.
AST SpaceMobile launched its next-generation BlueBird 6 satellite into low Earth orbit using India's largest rocket, ISRO's LVM3, marking a significant step in deploying a large constellation of high-capacity, direct-to-device communication satellites aimed at expanding 5G coverage globally. The company plans to launch up to 60 satellites by 2026, utilizing multiple launch providers including SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Iridium Communications plans to make its low Earth orbit constellation compatible with 5G standards, aiming to enable mass-market smartphones to access messaging and SOS services outside cellular coverage from 2026. This shift follows a failed proprietary-only strategy and involves joining 3GPP to help develop future standards. The company remains open to proprietary partnerships but is focusing on a standardized approach, which could make it easier for device manufacturers to adopt the technology.