New York, February 6, 2026, 19:59 EST — After-hours
- AST SpaceMobile jumped 9.1% Friday, ending the session at $101.79. 1
- AT&T plans to use Amazon Leo’s satellite system to reach business clients beyond its land-based coverage, the company said. 2
- Trading kicked off Friday for ASTN, a fresh 2x short ETF tracking ASTS, now listed on Cboe. 3
AST SpaceMobile jumped 9.1% to $101.79 in late Friday trading, snapping back after a volatile week. The shares swung between $90.02 and $105.19, with volume reaching roughly 15.9 million, according to market data.
Why this matters: AST’s market value is basically a stand-in for confidence that major mobile carriers will back its push to link regular phones to satellites—no custom devices needed. As a result, the shares jump around on any hint of new competition or fresh headlines about partners.
Direct-to-device remains largely unproven at scale. Investors are constantly reassessing the rollout, quick to punish any signs that timelines slip or partnerships aren’t as exclusive as once expected by the market.
AT&T and Amazon rolled out a wider partnership this week, with plans to tap Amazon Leo’s satellite broadband for filling fixed connectivity gaps among business clients, plus a move to shift more AT&T workloads onto AWS. “We’re creating a more resilient, scalable, and intelligent connectivity ecosystem,” said Shawn Hakl, AT&T Business’s product chief. 4
Some AST holders got rattled, with AT&T also playing a central role in AST’s direct-to-cell push. “This new agreement with Amazon Leo does not impact our relationship or plans with AST SpaceMobile,” AT&T spokesperson Darian Taylor wrote in an email. She said more details should come at Mobile World Congress. 5
Friday saw traders get a new volatility play: Defiance ETFs rolled out ASTN, a fund set up to deliver -2x the daily move in AST SpaceMobile shares. The firm flagged that the ETF isn’t intended to hit its target over stretches longer than one trading day. 6
The midweek drop in AST shares highlighted the volatility that’s been dogging space-related stocks. Investors wasted no time reacting to fresh competitive pressure from heavyweight satellite players. AST slid over 10% Wednesday, rattled by headlines about the AT&T-Amazon Leo partnership, according to MarketWatch. 7
AST SpaceMobile is working on a satellite network designed to beam 4G and 5G directly to regular smartphones. The firm’s next satellite, “BlueBird 7,” is slated for launch late February on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket out of Cape Canaveral, according to the company. 8
The flip side isn’t hard to imagine: launch schedules could get pushed back, regulatory sign-offs might take longer than expected, and partners could pivot without much notice. These have dogged AST’s shares as investors question the company’s pace and launch goals. 9
Traders are eyeing the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, set for March 2–5, hunting for fresh details. Attention also remains fixed on whether AST can stick to its late-February launch window. 10
