Replace from April 16, 2025:
AT&T tells us that the removing of the advert “has nothing to do with launch dates and doesn’t trace at a delay.” The corporate notes that launching a satellite tv for pc program takes time and it is following due processes and dealing with its companions and the FCC.
The corporate says that just about half of its prospects have already got entry to peer-to-peer messaging and emergency satellite tv for pc providers.
We’re working with AST SpaceMobile to someday provide a full suite of connectivity: voice, knowledge, video and textual content providers in distant, off-grid areas. Our prospects may have entry to a satellite-based mobile community with a regular smartphone – no particular gadget is required.
—Madelynn Traylor, Communication & PR Supervisor at AT&T, April 2025
AST exercised choice for added orbital launches, with full contracted launch capability now for roughly 60 satellites throughout 2025 and 2026
The 5 preliminary satellites…will goal roughly 100% nationwide protection from house with over 5,600 protection cells in the USA.
The subsequent-generation Block 2 BlueBirds that includes as much as 2,400 square-foot communications arrays, are designed to ship as much as 10 instances the bandwidth capability of the BlueBird satellites in orbit, enabling peak knowledge transmission speeds of as much as 120 Mbps, supporting voice, full knowledge, and video functions, and different native mobile capabilities.
—Madelynn Traylor, Communication & PR Supervisor at AT&T, April 2025
AT&T briefly teased its satellite tv for pc service, earlier than pulling the announcement, suggesting the launch may need been delayed.
AT&T has teamed up with satellite tv for pc designer and producer AST SpaceMobile to convey satellite tv for pc connectivity to its subscribers to make sure they will not be with out connectivity in areas with out indicators from its land-based community. In February, AST SpaceMobile acquired permission from the Federal Communications Fee (FCC) to check its expertise.
T-Cellular and Verizon have already launched their satellite tv for pc providers. AT&T appears to be feeling the stress as the corporate launched a market marketing campaign with rollout dates, solely to drag it again.
The corporate is seemingly hoping to roll out satellite tv for pc texting for sure suitable units this 12 months and name help in late 2026.
It is not clear why the advert was eliminated, but it surely appears to trace at a delay. AST SpaceMobile solely has 5 of its BlueBird satellites in orbit and hopes to launch round 45 to 60 extra by 2026 to supply satellite-fueled texting, calling, and knowledge. This will probably be shared by its varied companions, together with Verizon, which is presently counting on one other accomplice for its satellite tv for pc program.
AST SpaceMobile seems to be to be extra bold than T-Cellular. It says that its satellites are greater and extra succesful than these utilized by T-Cellular and Apple.
Nevertheless, it is one factor to decide to one thing and one other to ship. T-Cellular is inching nearer to a public rollout and would possibly provide knowledge and voice capabilities quickly, supplied its plans do not get derailed by opponents.
AST SpaceMobile, alternatively, nonetheless has regulatory hurdles to leap over earlier than it might probably join its satellites to AT&T and Verizon‘s subscribers utilizing their spectrum holdings, per TMF Associates analyst Tim Farrar. The corporate’s large satellites might have problem moving into orbit.
And, skepticism apart, AST SpaceMobile’s FCC submitting does not encourage a lot confidence in its means to help a wide-scale rollout anytime quickly.
To start with, AST SpaceMobile’s testing for AT&T will initially be restricted to FirstNet, the devoted community for first responders commissioned by the US authorities. Furthermore, testing will solely be carried out with 45 smartphones, making you query the service’s capability.
AT&T’s satellite tv for pc accomplice AST SpaceMobile will even present voice and knowledge providers
One promising side is that the corporate says that it goals to supply voice and knowledge providers to first responders, hinting prospects will not be caught with texting solely. And AST SpaceMobile will provide these capabilities whereas complying with strict energy limits for which T-Cellular‘s accomplice SpaceX acquired a waiver.
AT&T’s preliminary testing will assist it to ultimately launch a nationwide direct-to-cell service.
