AT&T Goes Up Against T-Mobile, Starlink With AST SpaceMobile Satellite Deal (pcmag.com) 14
Michael Kan reports via PCMag: AT&T has struck a deal to bring satellite internet connectivity to phones through AST SpaceMobile, a potential rival to SpaceX's Starlink. AT&T says the commercial agreement will last until 2030. The goal is "to provide a space-based broadband network to everyday cell phones," a spokesperson tells PCMag, meaning customers can receive a cellular signal in remote areas where traditional cell towers are few and far between. All they'll need to do is ensure their phone has a clear view of the sky.
AT&T has been working with Texas-based AST SpaceMobile since 2018 on the technology, which involves using satellites in space as orbiting cell towers. In January, AT&T was one of several companies (including Google) to invest $110 million in AST. In addition, the carrier created a commercial starring actor Ben Stiller to showcase AST's technology. In today's announcement, AT&T notes that "previously, the companies were working together under a Memorandum of Understanding," which is usually nonbinding. Hence, the new commercial deal suggests AT&T is confident AST can deliver fast and reliable satellite internet service to consumer smartphones -- even though it hasn't launched a production satellite.
AST has only launched one prototype satellite; in tests last year, it delivered download rates at 14Mbps and powered a 5G voice call. Following a supply chain-related delay, the company is now preparing to launch its first batch of "BlueBird" production satellites later this year, possibly in Q3. In Wednesday's announcement, AT&T adds: "This summer, AST SpaceMobile plans to deliver its first commercial satellites to Cape Canaveral for launch into low Earth orbit. These initial five satellites will help enable commercial service that was previously demonstrated with several key milestones." Still, AST needs to launch 45 to 60 BlueBird satellites before it can offer continuous coverage in the U.S., although in an earnings call, the company said it'll still be able to offer "non-continuous coverage" across 5,600 cells in the country.
AT&T has been working with Texas-based AST SpaceMobile since 2018 on the technology, which involves using satellites in space as orbiting cell towers. In January, AT&T was one of several companies (including Google) to invest $110 million in AST. In addition, the carrier created a commercial starring actor Ben Stiller to showcase AST's technology. In today's announcement, AT&T notes that "previously, the companies were working together under a Memorandum of Understanding," which is usually nonbinding. Hence, the new commercial deal suggests AT&T is confident AST can deliver fast and reliable satellite internet service to consumer smartphones -- even though it hasn't launched a production satellite.
AST has only launched one prototype satellite; in tests last year, it delivered download rates at 14Mbps and powered a 5G voice call. Following a supply chain-related delay, the company is now preparing to launch its first batch of "BlueBird" production satellites later this year, possibly in Q3. In Wednesday's announcement, AT&T adds: "This summer, AST SpaceMobile plans to deliver its first commercial satellites to Cape Canaveral for launch into low Earth orbit. These initial five satellites will help enable commercial service that was previously demonstrated with several key milestones." Still, AST needs to launch 45 to 60 BlueBird satellites before it can offer continuous coverage in the U.S., although in an earnings call, the company said it'll still be able to offer "non-continuous coverage" across 5,600 cells in the country.
Re: doomed (Score:2)
The T-mobile Starlink deal might not be so dumb. It seems that the current technology is working only with T-mobile's spectrum. Starlink is looking for other partners around the globe that use that spectrum. I hope others here can fill in the details of what the details are in this apparent limitation. It seems to be using the 1900 MHz band.
https://techcrunch.com/2022/08... [techcrunch.com]
https://www.androidauthority.c... [androidauthority.com]
Additionally, exclusive agreements aren't forever. Apple went exclusive with AT&T when the iPhon
Re: doomed (Score:2)
Without the subsidy of having your own launch f[l]eet,
Launched by SpaceX. Either way, Elon wins.
Too many satellites (Score:2)
I think there needs to be an international agreement of some kind to limit the number of these companies that exist to one per nation. Or something. It's just too many.
Re: Too many satellites (Score:3)
One per nation? So guaranteed monopoly? Doesn't sound so good for innovation or competition
Re: (Score:2)
This is space though which is a "global resource" as it were. There are no borders and there are plenty of treaties around that very concept. Outer space *should* be a space where nation states can actually cooperate and coordinate as there is a shared risk, even if small of too many competing systems crowding space, collisions, interference, etc.
Just like positioning systems one per nation is probably too many and a policy of open, global systems is what we should strive for. Do we have 3 or 4 now? Outs
Re: (Score:2)
I think there needs to be an international agreement of some kind to limit the number of these companies that exist to one per nation. Or something. It's just too many.
Yeah, man. Like cable TV! Or ISPs for a moment or three before the wireless providers started offering home internet solutions. One company should be enough for every business sector!
Re: (Score:2)
Too much cable isn't a problem.
How many satellite swarms can their be? (Score:2)
These satellite swarms provide great services, but I wonder: on a practical level, how many of them can co-exist? At some point, it will be come difficult or impossible to coordinate all the different orbits.
Any space experts want to offer an opinion?
Re: (Score:3)
Not an expert, but I saw something the other day saying we're approaching the limit where one satellite crashes into another and starts a cascade that makes that orbit impossible to use for a long time.
Re: (Score:2)
You're talking about the Kessler Syndrome [wikipedia.org].
It'll be interesting if we ever get a cascading ricochet going in that LEO where most of these satellites reside. The hope would be they're low enough and catching just enough drag from the very thin remnants of atmosphere they encounter out there they wouldn't explode outward. That's the fantasy that's been pushed when it's been brought up before. And most of these do reside low enough to hit reentry and burn up fairly quickly if they fail, but crossing ricochets a
Hedging time (Score:2)
All these satellites will eventually perish, and by eventually I mean within a few years.
It is simple law of probability, once the critical mass is reached, as it will be due to human greed, there will be a collision.
Once there is a collision a Kessler effect will take place and wipe out most satellites in low Earth orbit, also known as Elon Failure Zone.
I would start hedging and double down on backup links, microwave, fiber, even Comcast as disgusting as that is.
Potential rival? (Score:2)
The problem with the idea of there being a potential rival to Starlink is that Starlink is owned by a company with the lowest cost to launch a satellite. "But what if rocket company XYZ launches it cheaper?" Well Starlink isn't paying the sticker price for launches, so they still have the lowest cost launches. The only way to beat Starlink is to have much cheaper communication hardware on the ground and ensuring Starlink cannot use it. No matter who wins, consumers lose.
Let me remind you... (Score:3)
So that's AT&T's history with satellites, just FYI. Fast forward to now and the only reason they're doing it is so they can gouge service prices for rural areas and probably add "magic space alien space walk space maintenance space tax, IDK, just pay it" as a line item on people's bills.