AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) shares rose 1% overnight heading into Wednesday after the company told U.S. regulators it would “imminently” begin direct-to-cell operations in the United Kingdom with Vodafone.
The regulatory move brings AST SpaceMobile’s satellite-to-smartphone network significantly closer to full international commercialization, a milestone that investors have been watching closely.
In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, AST SpaceMobile confirmed it had secured the necessary authorizations and completed required interference assessments ahead of the UK launch.
The service will operate using Vodafone’s licensed UK spectrum, supported by authorized gateways that include Goonhilly Downs, while certain frequencies fall under an Ofcom demonstration and trial license.
AST SpaceMobile said the service would run on a non-harmful-interference basis, with satellite beams deactivated immediately if verified interference occurs, and its network operations center will remain available around the clock.
The filing came just days after AST SpaceMobile’s second-quarter earnings call, where company leadership made clear that carrier partners are pushing hard for a rapid commercial rollout across Europe.
“We’re hearing from operators that they want the service now,” said President Scott Wisniewski. “We are pushing extremely hard.”
CEO Abel Avellan noted that 21 of Europe’s 25 largest operators have expressed interest in partnering with the company, underscoring the scale of demand building across the continent.
“We’re building the direct-to-device network of the future today in partnership with, not in competition with mobile network operators,” Avellan said.
AST SpaceMobile is currently conducting European network integration and testing with Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica, Vodafone Ukraine, and Deutsche Telekom, with its ecosystem covering more than 3 billion subscribers across 60-plus mobile network partners.
The company has 10 launches booked with two providers and expects to place its first 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by early 2027, with management stating 45 to 60 satellites could enable continuous service across the U.S., Europe, Japan, and other strategic markets.
BlueBirds 14 through 16 are undergoing final testing, while satellites 17 through 46 are in various stages of production, and next-generation spacecraft are expected to nearly double the 98.9 Mbps peak speed demonstrated by existing BlueBird satellites.
AST SpaceMobile reported $31.5 million in second-quarter revenue and reaffirmed its full-year 2026 revenue outlook of $150 million to $200 million, weighted toward the fourth quarter.
“Commercial services revenue, of course, is what we’re all playing for,” Wisniewski said. “We’re very excited and expect that to ramp quickly once we get going.”
The company is targeting revenue approaching $1 billion in its first full year of commercial service and has already built a $1.3 billion backlog to support that ambition.
ASTS stock jumped 4% on Tuesday to close at $71.63 and has gained 56% over the past year, reflecting sustained investor confidence in the company’s expanding satellite network and commercial pipeline.
