AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) shares climbed 2% overnight Sunday after a regulatory filing indicated that direct-to-cell satellite operations in Japan could begin imminently.
The filing, submitted to the Federal Communications Commission last week, confirmed that AST SpaceMobile would launch non-U.S. direct-to-cell operations with its mobile network operator partners in the near term.
Japan is the first disclosed market, with AST set to work alongside Rakuten Mobile using the carrier’s licensed 700 MHz spectrum band.
AST SpaceMobile said all required Japanese authorizations had been secured, including a user-equipment license from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
The timing follows Japan’s June recommendation to permit low-Earth-orbit satellites to connect directly with standard smartphones over the 700 MHz frequency band.
That regulatory pathway is particularly significant for Rakuten, which does not control the 2 GHz spectrum currently used by Starlink-backed satellite services operating in Japan.
Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani has said the two companies plan to form an equally owned satellite venture, with limited service expected in 2026 and nationwide coverage targeted for fiscal 2027.
The service is expected to prioritize remote areas and disaster zones where traditional terrestrial mobile coverage remains limited or entirely unavailable.
Adding further momentum over the weekend, AST SpaceMobile announced on X that its BlueBird satellites had been recognized by Guinness World Records for deploying the largest commercial communications arrays in low-Earth orbit.
AST described the achievement as “an American breakthrough in space engineering,” pointing to the large phased arrays engineered to connect directly with unmodified smartphones.
Investor focus now shifts to this week’s planned launch of BlueBird satellites 11, 12, and 13 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The company confirmed on Friday that the satellites were stacked and ready, with BlueBirds 14, 15, and 16 set to follow as production advances through BlueBird 42.
“The upcoming launch of BlueBirds 11, 12, and 13 showcases our ability to rapidly and consistently build, launch, and deploy the largest phased arrays in low Earth orbit,” said President Scott Wisniewski.
Wisniewski added that the launch and recent manufacturing progress position AST SpaceMobile for beta services later this year, reinforcing the company’s commercial timeline.
The next-generation satellites are expected to deliver nearly twice the peak speeds of the company’s initial Block 1 BlueBirds, which recently reached 98.9 Mbps directly to standard smartphones.
Despite the recent optimism, ASTS stock tumbled 34% in July, marking its worst monthly performance since January 2024, before rebounding 5% last week to snap a three-week losing streak.
On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for ASTS slipped to “bearish” from “neutral” levels over the past day, even as 24-hour message volumes jumped 65%.
One Stocktwits user wrote, “Japan could become another major piece of the satellite connectivity story. $ASTS The push for domestic-controlled satellite services creates an interesting opportunity for players already building global networks.”
Another user commented, “$ASTS has another big month ahead. Every successful BlueBird launch chips away at the execution concerns. The technology is one thing, but proving the rollout is what the market cares about.”
Over the past year, ASTS stock has gained 11%, reflecting both the company’s growing commercial momentum and the volatility that has defined its trading trajectory.
