Neighbors hope to hang up cell tower

Satellite-direct-to-device provider AST SpaceMobile today launched its first five Bluebird low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites to mark the beginning of its constellation that is designed to deliver global 4G/5G broadband services to unmodified devices in partnership with some of the world’s largest cellular carriers. AST SpaceMobile CEO Abel Avellan said the launch of the five Bluebird satellites […]

Verizon has announced deals with two different satellite-direct-to-device providers—AST SpaceMobile and Skylo—in an effort to provide its customers with layers of redundant connectivity, even when they are in outdoor locations that are beyond the coverage footprint of any wireless provider, according to a Verizon official. Srini Kalapala, Verizon’s senior vice president and chief product-development officer, […]

Satellite-direct-to-device technology can work and potentially will be “revolutionary” for public-safety communications, but several questions still need to be answered through testing that will be conducted next year and into the future, according to a member of AT&T’s FirstNet team. Mohammad Baig, AT&T’s lead market development manager for FirstNet, said the satellite-direct-to-device technology could solve […]

Verizon has inked a deal with Skylo that paves the way for some Verizon mobile customers to tap into Skylo’s satellite platform to gain access to emergency messaging and location sharing in areas not reached by the terrestrial cellular network. Verizon already has a direct-to-device (D2D) partnership with AST SpaceMobile. Access to satellite services via Verizon and […]