AST SpaceMobile won permission to use Brazilian satellite spectrum and secured agreements with four regional carriers, giving its planned BlueBird service a route to extend mobile coverage beyond ground networks.
AST SpaceMobile said Oct. 26 that Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) authorized it to use 15+15 MHz of S-band spectrum, totaling 30 MHz. The company said agreements with four regional mobile operators provide for secondary use of as much as 10+10 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum within the operators’ licensed areas.
The company says BlueBird could extend mobile voice, data and video to standard, unmodified phones where terrestrial networks are unavailable. AST is planning four Brazilian gateway sites to route traffic between BlueBird satellites and partner carriers.
AST said service would depend on connecting its satellite system to carrier networks and having sufficient space and ground capacity. Compatible phones, regulatory permissions and commercial agreements would also be needed. AST did not provide a timetable for building the gateways or beginning service.
