AT&T and AST SpaceMobile announced several infrastructure milestones on December 30, 2025, to support the expansion of direct-to-cell satellite connectivity across the United States. The updates follow the December 23 deployment of BlueBird 6, the first of the company’s Block 2 satellites, which is designed to provide broadband services directly to unmodified smartphones using AT&T’s terrestrial spectrum.
The information was disclosed in a report from Zacks Investment Research and confirmed by company statements detailing the activation of a fourth satellite ground gateway. This gateway acts as the primary interface between the orbiting satellite constellation and AT&T’s core network.
BlueBird 6 Technical Specifications
BlueBird 6 was launched aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) LVM3 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The satellite features a phased array antenna measuring approximately 2,400 square feet, making it 3.5 times larger than the five BlueBird Block 1 satellites launched in September 2024. The Block 2 architecture is designed to support peak data rates of up to 120 Mbps, enabling voice, video, and high-speed data transmissions.
FirstNet Integration and Public Safety Testing
AT&T is currently integrating these satellite capabilities into FirstNet, the dedicated communications platform for public safety. Field testing is underway with the Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado. These agencies are evaluating satellite-based mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) and FirstNet Fusion services to provide connectivity in remote areas where terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable.
Program Context and Market Dynamics
The collaboration is governed by a definitive commercial agreement signed in May 2024. This partnership faces competition from T-Mobile US, which is beta testing a similar service with SpaceX’s Starlink, and Verizon, which recently entered its own agreement to utilize AST SpaceMobile’s network via 850 MHz low-band spectrum. To date, AST SpaceMobile has secured partnerships with more than 50 mobile network operators globally.
Timeline to 2026 Commercial Service
AT&T and AST SpaceMobile intend to initiate a beta satellite service for a select group of commercial and FirstNet users in the first half of 2026. The company aims to accelerate its launch cadence to one mission every 1–2 months, targeting a constellation of 45–60 satellites by the end of 2026 to provide continuous cellular broadband coverage throughout the United States.
