The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted AST SpaceMobile permission to test direct-to-cellular connectivity on Band 14 spectrum, which is reserved for public safety — a request made in coordination with AT&T.
The tests will be conducted on the AST SpaceMobile fleet of BlueBird satellites. The company says it “envision(s)” that it will test on select FirstNet transponders later this year.
The press release said that the service could enhance public safety by doing such things as helping in the thousands of search and rescue missions it conducts annually in national parks.
Telecompetitor spoke with an AT&T spokesperson about the path forward for the carrier and AST SpaceMobile.
“It’s still too early to give a specific timeline,” the spokesperson said. “As we look ahead, we are excited to continue our work with the FirstNet Authority to explore how satellites will be used in public safety communications and bring new capabilities to first responders on America’s public safety network.”
In January, AST SpaceMobile was granted Special Temporary Authority (STA) by the FCC, enabling it to begin testing its five low-earth orbit (LEO) BlueBird satellites with unmodified devices in AT&T and Verizon’s low band wireless spectrum.
The announcement offered no details on the precise nature or time of the planned tests.
The partnership between AT&T and AST SpaceMobile is approaching its first anniversary. The two companies reached a long-term agreement in late May of last year. The goal was set at creating satellite-to-cell phone service that work with standard cellphones.
In January, AST SpaceMobile entered into a restructuring support agreement with holders of approximately 88% of the funded indebtedness of Ligado (formerly LightSquared).
AST SpaceMobile was to receive long-term spectrum usage rights for more than 80 years to up to 40 MHz of L-Band MSS spectrum in the United States and Canada held by Ligado, plus access to an additional 5 MHz in the 1670-1675 MHz Band in the United States.
