Image: AST SpaceMobile
Starlink’s challengers are stepping up their game, as AST SpaceMobile has successfully launched its largest and most powerful direct-to-cell satellite yet.
The Texas-based company announced this week that its first second-generation BlueBird Block 2 satellite, dubbed BlueBird 6, is now in orbit after launching aboard the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)’s LVM3 rocket. The satellite lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center and was deployed roughly 15 minutes later into low Earth orbit, marking a major milestone for AST’s ambitions to deliver space-based cellular service directly to everyday smartphones.
BlueBird 6 represents a significant leap over AST’s initial five production satellites that went up in late 2024. The new spacecraft boasts what the company calls the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in low Earth orbit, spanning nearly 2,400 square feet. AST says that the massive antenna, combined with upgraded onboard processing, will eventually allow each satellite to support more than 2,000 cellular coverage areas with speeds of up to 120 Mbps per cell for voice, messaging, and data — all without requiring users to modify their phones.
AST CEO Abel Avellan framed the launch as a transition point for the company, saying it puts AST on a path toward “scaled deployment” and global service. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also celebrated the mission, calling it the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil.
Still, there’s a long road ahead. While AST now has six satellites in orbit, company executives have said it needs roughly 40 to 60 next-generation BlueBirds to provide commercial coverage across the U.S. in partnership with AT&T and Verizon. T-Mobile, meanwhile, has already rolled out its satellite cellular offering, powered by Starlink. On top of that, some of the satellite’s full capabilities depend on an upgraded ASIC that isn’t expected to be flight-ready until sometime in Q1 2026.
That puts AST far behind SpaceX’s Starlink, which already operates more than 600 dedicated direct-to-cell satellites and is seeking FCC approval to launch up to 15,000 more. Starlink has also lined up a growing list of global partners, including T-Mobile in the U.S., Rogers in Canada, Virgin Media O2 in the U.K., and Airtel Africa, while hinting at its own standalone “Starlink Mobile” service.
Industry watchers remain skeptical that AST can meaningfully challenge Starlink before 2027. Even so, analysts note that AST offers something Starlink doesn’t: a credible alternative for carriers wary of becoming too dependent on Elon Musk’s expanding satellite empire.
Whether that’s enough to close the gap remains to be seen, but with BlueBird 6 now in orbit, the direct-to-cell race is clearly heating up.
