TAMPA, Fla. — AST SpaceMobile is seeking regulatory approval to provide direct-to-smartphone satellite connectivity for first responders in the United States, after reaching a deal to use the public safety spectrum AT&T operates.
The Texas-based venture filed with the Federal Communications Commission July 21 for permission to use Band 14 frequencies, via AT&T’s government-backed FirstNet program, to enable connectivity in areas without terrestrial coverage.
The First Responder Network Authority, an independent agency within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that oversees FirstNet, said in an FCC filing last week that it had amended its contract with AT&T to authorize Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) from AST SpaceMobile.
The FCC is expected to put both filings, along with other AST SpaceMobile applications related to SCS, out for public notice prior to any decision.
AT&T, which along with Verizon has committed other spectrum access for AST SpaceMobile to reach mobile subscribers beyond the range of cell towers, previously announced plans to trial the service with select first responders in 2025.
Last year, AT&T said it successfully tested mission-critical capabilities such as push-to-talk over AST SpaceMobile’s satellite network under an experimental license.
AST SpaceMobile has deployed five operational BlueBird satellites to date and plans to ramp up launches ahead of beta services this year, although the venture needs regulatory approvals before it can begin providing the network commercially.
Other companies deploying direct-to-smartphone satellites in partnership with wireless carriers include Lynk Global, which recently settled a legal dispute that could help unlock more funding, and SpaceX, which is leveraging its Starlink broadband constellation for cellular connectivity in partnership with T-Mobile.