AST SpaceMobile has pushed its commercial direct-to-device launch to early 2027 from late 2026. The company also plans to raise up to US$1 billion through a convertible senior notes offering.
Launch timing slips, but the financing plan stays in place
AST SpaceMobile says it intends to use the proceeds to fund ongoing operations, secure launch capacity, and evaluate potential strategic acquisitions. The company had originally partnered with Blue Origin to launch 45 BlueBird satellites aboard the New Glenn rocket to establish initial continuous commercial coverage.
A late-June 2026 ground test anomaly caused an upper-stage explosion that sidelined New Glenn and limited near-term launch availability. AST SpaceMobile also lost a BlueBird satellite earlier this year.
SpaceX fills the near-term gap
BlueBirds 11, 12, and 13 have completed fabrication and are scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during the first half of August 2026. Those three satellites would bring AST SpaceMobile’s total in-orbit fleet to 13 spacecraft.
What this means for satellite-to-phone buyers
For operators and enterprise buyers tracking satellite-to-phone offers, the key number is still the launch window: AST SpaceMobile is now targeting early 2027 for commercial D2D service. The August Falcon 9 launch is the nearer milestone, but it does not erase the delay in the service start date.
Axian Telecom, the parent company of Yas, is also partnering with AST SpaceMobile to deliver direct-to-device satellite services across Yas markets in sub-Saharan Africa.