The US mobile broadband provider that hopes to use amateur radio frequencies to support its planned satellite-based network has rolled back the date for the launch of its prototype satellite. This is the second delay by AST SpaceMobile, which had originally hoped to launch the satellite, known as FM1, in August and first postponed it to October or November. India's space agency, ISRO, confirmed the delay in a press conference with local Indian media, adding that FM1 would likely not launch until the first quarter of 2026. FM1, which has a phased-array antenna, is designed to function as a cell tower from space.
The announcement comes barely a week after the company said it expects to launch between 45 and 60 satellites by next year.
No reason was given for the postponement, which was reported on the PCMag website. AST SpaceMobile is building its network in partnership with Verizon and AT&T and is considered a rival to Starlink services which are partnered with T-Mobile.
Texas-based AST SpaceMobile has asked the FCC to authorize its network's use of amateur radio frequencies between 430 and 440 MHz - a request that has drawn challenges from the amateur radio community. In July, the FCC assigned FM1 the callsign WP2XRX, which expires on July 1st, 2027. Its license authorizes experimental operation for mobile satellite services only on 37.5 to 42 GHz, and 2.235 GHz and 2.245 GHz.
