Germany submitted an amended filing for a proposed 344-satellite D-BLUEBIRD network to the International Telecommunication Union last week, drawing fresh attention to AST SpaceMobile’s (ASTS) expansion plans.
The ITU’s public register shows the filing modifies an earlier request, though the agency does not specify what changes were made to the submission.
Germany first submitted the network for coordination in October 2025, and the ITU published the request in July of that year.
The ITU’s network record, which includes information through September 15, lists 344 proposed satellites orbiting between approximately 520 and 690 kilometers above Earth.
The record also confirms the network has not been designated as brought into use, meaning commercial operations under this filing have not yet commenced.
AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone jointly own SatCo, a Luxembourg-based venture established to distribute AST’s satellite service to mobile operators across Europe.
AST has stated that SatCo plans to operate a satellite operations center in Germany, though the German ITU filing remains separate from a U.S. authorization approved in April allowing AST to operate up to 248 satellites.
ASTS stock rose 6% last week, pushing its total September gain to 5% and positioning the stock for its strongest monthly performance since May.
Despite the recent rally, ASTS shares remain down 15% year-to-date, and retail sentiment on Stocktwits has stayed bearish over the past month even as message volumes climbed 10%.
One Stocktwits user captured the frustration among some investors, writing, “$ASTS bb11 update its been almost 50 days and bb14 to bb16 launch date. These are critical unknowns.”
Another user was more pointed in their criticism, saying, “$ASTS management has no plan, no launch, and now satellites that don’t work.”
AST sent BlueBirds 8-10 into orbit in June, followed 49 days later by BlueBirds 11-13 last month, but the company has not announced a shipment or launch date for BlueBirds 14-16.
In July, CEO Abel Avellan said BlueBirds 14-16 were “right behind” the August-bound satellites, and AST subsequently said the next trio would “follow right after.”
Following the August launch, Avellan maintained his optimistic tone, saying the next batch would “follow soon after,” though no formal launch date has been announced.
CFO Andy Johnson added last month that BlueBirds 14-16 would be “ready to ship shortly,” while a later production update confirmed BlueBird 14 was complete and BlueBirds 15 and 16 were nearing completion.
AST also confirmed in that update that work was under way on satellites through BlueBird 48, signaling continued manufacturing momentum even as near-term launch timing remains uncertain.
The company previously targeted 45 to 60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026, but a July filing shifted that goal, moving the target for a launch campaign of roughly 45 satellites to early 2027.
AST cited satellite assembly and testing, launch-vehicle readiness, logistics, and other operational factors as variables affecting that revised timeline.
