Catenaa, Monday, February 02, 2026- AST SpaceMobile plans to launch commercial satellite broadband services in 2026, advancing its mission to deliver direct-to-device connectivity for smartphones worldwide, a media release by Global Businesswire said.
The company will deploy BlueBird 7, the second of its next-generation fleet, in late February, following the launch of BlueBird 6 in low-earth orbit last December.
BlueBird 7 features the largest commercial communications array in low-earth orbit at 2,400 square feet, 3.5 times larger than the first five BlueBird satellites.
AST SpaceMobile said the satellite will support peak data rates of 120 Mbps for voice, data, and streaming, positioning its service as cellular-grade broadband rather than basic messaging.
The firm has a multi-launch plan through 2026, with one to two launches per month. Each launch can carry up to eight satellites, enabling AST SpaceMobile to deploy between 45 and 60 BlueBird satellites by year-end.
The satellite network aims to provide consistent coverage for consumers, enterprises, and government users globally.
AST SpaceMobile’s efforts complement its telecom partners, including Vodafone, AT&T, Verizon, Bell Canada, and Rakuten Mobile, who are expected to integrate satellite services into their networks.
The launch comes as competitors, such as Virgin Media O2 and Starlink, also move forward with direct-to-device offerings, placing pressure on the company to establish commercial services quickly.
The 2026 rollout will mark a major step for space-based broadband, offering high-speed, low-latency connectivity that could rival terrestrial mobile networks and expand access in underserved areas.
