AST SpaceMobile, a rival to Starlink, is receiving a $206.5 million investment from Google, AT&T, and Vodafone to develop satellites that can link directly to smartphones.
AST, similar to Starlink, focuses on delivering service to remote areas lacking cellular coverage. The company has a significant prototype satellite in orbit and intends to launch five additional satellites by March 2024. In comparison, Starlink currently has six LTE-enabled satellites in orbit. Google will collaborate to integrate AST’s service into Android devices, and AT&T and Vodafone have ordered equipment for commercial use. Starlink has a partnership with T-Mobile in the U.S. and works with various other carriers globally.
Thanks to major tech and telecom firms, AST could become a competitor to Starlink. Still, consumers everywhere are expected to benefit from the future increase in global phone connectivity.
