AST CEO: FCC OK of Commercial D2D 'Imminent'

AST SpaceMobile's first tranche of commercial BlueBird satellites is "now ready to become operational" and FCC approval of commercial direct-to-device service is "imminent," CEO Abel Avellan said in a call with analysts Thursday evening. That tranche of five BlueBirds launched in September (see 2409120004) will provide "close to 100%" nationwide coverage in the U.S., he added. AST has agreements with SpaceX and Blue Origin for the launch of 60 next-generation BlueBird satellites in 2025 and 2026 to bring service to other key markets. Chief Strategy Officer Scott Wisniewski said that once AST has 45 to 60 BlueBirds in orbit, it could offer cellular broadband coverage to the top wireless markets and have network capacity for "hundreds of millions of potential subscribers."