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This Week's Featured News
AST SpaceMobile Gets FCC Green Light for Direct-to-Device Service After Launch SetbackWritten by Jessica Mitacek. Published: 4/28/2026. 
Key Points
- The FCC granted AST SpaceMobile commercial authority on April 22 to deliver direct-to-device cellular broadband nationwide from LEO satellites.
- AST SpaceMobile has secured strategic partnerships with Verizon, AT&T, Vodafone, and Google, alongside a $30 million U.S. government contract.
- Analysts expect AST SpaceMobile to remain unprofitable until 2027 or 2028, with the stock carrying a beta of 2.81 and near-term volatility likely.
- Special Report: Elon’s “Hidden” Company
Less than one week after space-based broadband provider AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) saw its shares sell off when its BlueBird 7 satellite failed to deploy into the correct orbit after launching on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, the stock is back in the headlines. However, this time, the communication services upstart was the recipient of bullish news. On April 22, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted AST SpaceMobile commercial authority to deliver direct-to-device (D2D) cellular broadband connectivity from space nationwide in the United States.
Tesla's most recent SEC filing contains a single line showing $12 billion in revenue from a new venture Elon Musk has been quietly building inside the company — one that has nothing to do with cars, robots, space, or AI.
Blackstone calls the underlying opportunity a $23 trillion market. On July 22, Elon is expected to go public with it. Former hedge fund manager Adam O'Dell says he already knows what's coming — and is sharing the name and ticker of one of his top picks to play it, free. Watch Adam O'Dell's full briefing and claim your free ticker now
It has been a whirlwind year for shareholders who have endured the stock’s extreme volatility and a beta of 2.81. But with commercial approval from the FCC, buy-and-hold investors may be in for a smoother ride. Here’s what they need to know. FCC Approval Is a Small Step for AST SpaceMobile, a Giant Leap for Space-Based CellularThe FCC’s decision is a major stepping stone for AST SpaceMobile. As the first—and currently only—company building a space-based cellular broadband network accessible by everyday smartphones, FCC approval moves the firm closer to providing commercial and government service via a system of satellite-based antennas in non-geostationary low Earth orbit (LEO). Authorization from the FCC allows AST SpaceMobile to launch and operate a constellation of up to 248 LEO satellites. The company’s 2026 target is to deploy between 45 and 60 satellites, but after its most recent launch failed to place another BlueBird satellite into orbit, that near-term goal could be at risk. Long term, the company aims to have as many as 356 satellites in LEO by the end of the decade. It won’t take the full constellation to begin providing high-demand services. By integrating directly with its partners’ mobile network infrastructure, AST SpaceMobile plans to offer “critical communications for first responders, government agencies, enterprises and consumers, and enable users to access space-based cellular broadband using standard, unmodified smartphones,” according to a company press release. FCC approval was a critical step toward that goal. AST SpaceMobile Is Emerging as the Early Leader in the D2D Space-Based Cellular RaceWhile Elon Musk’s SpaceX—and its looming initial public offering (IPO)—has attracted much of the attention for space-based telecommunications this year, AST SpaceMobile is staking a claim as the leader among publicly traded companies in the sector. The two companies are competing in the D2D satellite cellular market, but they employ substantially different technologies, strategies, and target customers. At a market cap of less than $30 billion, AST SpaceMobile is a nimble provider that does not own or operate its own launch capabilities. AST’s services will be provided by massive phased-array antennas aboard its BlueBird satellites, which can span up to 700 square feet. SpaceX, by comparison, is currently valued far higher, maintains its own launch infrastructure, and relies on thousands of smaller—and cheaper—satellites. More importantly, SpaceX primarily provides internet service via its Starlink constellation, with direct-to-cell services for rural areas under development as a supplemental offering. AST SpaceMobile, by contrast, is already firmly established in the D2D cellular service space thanks in large part to its numerous telecom partners. From AT&T to Verizon, AST SpaceMobile’s Partners Are Paving the WayEven before securing FCC approval, the company had already established strategic partnerships with major telecoms including Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), AT&T (NYSE: T), Vodafone Group (NASDAQ: VOD), Japanese tech conglomerate Rakuten (OTCMKTS: RKUNY), real estate investment trust American Tower (NYSE: AMT), and BCE (NYSE: BCE), one of Canada’s largest telecommunications and media companies. The firm’s role as a federal government contractor is also growing. In February, AST SpaceMobile announced it had secured a $30 million prime contract from the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) for the HALO Europa Program, marking the first prime contract for its defense subsidiary and reinforcing its standing as a government contractor. That federal agreement was the first prime contract for AST SpaceMobile USA, the company’s wholly owned defense subsidiary, and represented the company’s second federal government contract announcement since the start of the year. Beyond telecom and government ties, the company has secured significant backing from a member of the Magnificent Seven. Since January 2024, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has been a major investor and strategic partner, collaborating with AST SpaceMobile on product development, testing, and implementation for Android devices. Within Alphabet’s investment portfolio, AST SpaceMobile represents roughly 25% and is the company’s largest holding. Alphabet owns nearly 9 million shares of ASTS, which equates to about 3.8% of the company — a stake that topped $1 billion after ASTS’s rally over the past two years. Big Backing Comes With Big ExpectationsThose partnerships, along with rising institutional ownership that produced more than $3 billion in inflows over the past 12 months versus $509.5 million in outflows, suggest the smart money has high expectations for AST SpaceMobile. Short term, however, volatility is likely to persist. Of the 11 analysts currently covering the stock, the consensus rating is Reduce, even though the average one-year consensus price target implies nearly 7% upside. While the company continues to operate at a loss, expectations are for AST SpaceMobile to reach profitability sometime in 2027 or 2028. Investors considering a position may capture significant upside if they buy in before commercial services become widely available and the stock’s volatility subsides. |
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