AST SpaceMobile has ramped up demonstrations of voice calls, texts, and video calls by way of satellite tv for pc over the past yr, utilizing 4G LTE and 5G connections with obtain bandwidth reaching 14Mbps. Now the corporate says {that a} earlier memorandum of understanding with AT&T to work on a space-based broadband network for telephones has become a “definitive commercial agreement,” simply in time for AST’s first 5 business satellites to launch this summer time.
The FCC has gotten things rolling on a framework (PDF) for corporations taken with constructing a majority of these companies, with the concept of what Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel known as a single community future. “We received’t want to consider what community, the place, and what companies can be found. Connections will simply work all over the place, on a regular basis,” mentioned Rosenworcel final yr.
In line with a press release, the 5 satellites AST SpaceMobile will launch from Cape Canaveral “will assist allow business service that was beforehand demonstrated,” however there’s no point out of modifications to cope with the problems of light pollution.
