Lynk, AST SpaceMobile race for approvals, satellite launches

The two startups racing to connect regular smartphones to satellites in cellular dead zones are each boasting of their respective market progress. But so far, neither is offering commercial services.

That may soon change, though, as both Lynk Global and AST SpaceMobile tout advancements.

“As we ready Blue Walker 3 for its plan launched this summer and prepare the company for full scale manufacturing, we are confident in the ability of our amazing team to execute our plans and deliver our game changing technology,” boasted AST SpaceMobile CFO Tom Severson during the company’s quarterly conference call this week, according to a Seeking Alpha transcript.

Broadly, AST SpaceMobile reported increased quarterly spending as it works to build and launch satellites that it hopes to use to keep out-of-coverage mobile users connected. Specifically, AST SpaceMobile recently announced that it would spend $23 million with SpaceX to launch its satellites, including one this summer, in a shift away from Russian satellite-launch companies.

Separately, AST SpaceMobile also crowed of its recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Orange to test satellite-based mobile services. Orange joins the likes of Vodafone, AT&T and Rakuten in working with AST SpaceMobile.

However, AST SpaceMobile is still working to finalize several parts of its broad plan. For example, the company still has not received FCC approvals to operate its new satellite in the US.

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