AST Still Sees Q1 Launch of First BlueBird Satellites

AST SpaceMobile remains on schedule for a Q1 launch of its first five mobile supplemental coverage from space (SCS) satellites, CEO Abel Avellan said Tuesday in a call with analysts as the company announced Q3 results. He said it's in talks with "multiple strategic partners" about funding the manufacturing, launch and operation of additional BlueBird satellites beyond those five. Asked about the end of the Iridium/Qualcomm SCS partnership (see 2311090077), Avellan said it was unsurprising as SCS offerings that work on currently available smartphones -- such as AST's planned service -- make those that require new chips -- such as through Qualcomm -- less relevant.