{"id":52295,"date":"2025-08-08T08:51:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T08:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/52295\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T08:51:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T08:51:26","slug":"ast-spacemobiles-prototype-satellite-faces-potential-delay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/52295\/","title":{"rendered":"AST SpaceMobile’s Prototype Satellite Faces Potential Delay"},"content":{"rendered":"

As AST SpaceMobile tries to compete with SpaceX’s cellular Starlink<\/a> system, the company is facing a possible delay with a crucial prototype satellite.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The FM1 prototype was supposed<\/a> to launch this month via India\u2019s space agency, ISRO, marking an important step in helping AST SpaceMobile deliver satellite connectivity to phones. But last week, the ISRO’s chairman indicated that FM1 won’t take off on time, according<\/a> to local media.\u00a0<\/p>\n

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan was recorded<\/a> twice<\/a> saying that the satellite launch will occur within three or even four months, presumably pushing the FM1\u2019s deployment to late Q4. According<\/a> to The Hindu newspaper, the satellite is slated to arrive in India in September. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Any delay risks pushing back AST’s timeline to deliver satellite connectivity to phones. That\u2019s because the FM1<\/a> is a prototype designed to test the company\u2019s second-generation BlueBird satellite design, which is about three times larger than its existing<\/a> five BlueBird satellites in orbit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

AST SpaceMobile hasn\u2019t responded to questions about when the FM1 will launch or if it’s revamping its plans and looking for a new launch provider<\/a>. (In FCC documents, AST has also mentioned the development of an FM2.) But the company is expected to reveal more details in an earnings call<\/a> on Monday, Aug. 11.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Recommended by Our Editors<\/p>\n

The company already told<\/a> the US Federal Communications Commission last month that it plans on \u201claunching up to 20 satellites, including FM1\u201d through the end of this year. The goal is to start offering a commercial satellite service as soon as early 2026<\/a>, giving consumers on AT&T and Verizon a new way to remain connected in cellular dead zones.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, AST has previously estimated it needs between 45 to 60 satellites in orbit to offer continuous service across the US. The company also needs to secure approval from the FCC before it can kick off commercial services. Meanwhile, rival SpaceX has already launched its cellular Starlink service through<\/a> partner T-Mobile.<\/p>\n

\"5<\/p>\n

\"PCMag<\/p>\n

5 Things to Know About Starlink Satellite Internet<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Newsletter<\/p>\n

\n Get Our Best Stories!\n <\/p>\n

A Smart, Bold Take on the Wireless World<\/p>\n

\"Fully<\/p>\n

Sign up for the Fully Mobilized newsletter to get our top mobile stories delivered right to your inbox.<\/p>\n

Sign up for the Fully Mobilized newsletter to get our top mobile stories delivered right to your inbox.<\/p>\n

\n By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and Privacy Policy<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n

Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n

Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!<\/p>\n

About Michael Kan<\/p>\n

\n Senior Reporter\n <\/p>\n

\"Michael<\/p>\n

I’ve been working as a journalist for over 15 years\u2014I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017.<\/p>\n

\n
\n Read Michael’s full bio
\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n

Read the latest from Michael Kan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As AST SpaceMobile tries to compete with SpaceX’s cellular Starlink system, the company is facing a possible delay…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":52296,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[90,416,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-52295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-space","tag-science","tag-space","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52295\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}