New York, Jan 2, 2026, 18:37 ET — After-hours
- AST SpaceMobile shares were up about 14.9% in late trading Friday, after swinging between roughly $69 and $84.
- Traders pointed to renewed focus on the company’s next-generation BlueBird 6 satellite program and 2026 deployment cadence.
- Investors are watching for in-orbit performance updates, additional launches and timing for the first commercial service steps.
AST SpaceMobile shares surged on Friday and held gains into after-hours trading, as investors returned from the holiday break chasing momentum in satellite-to-phone connectivity plays. The stock was up 14.9% at $83.47.
The move matters now because 2026 is shaping up as a make-or-break year for companies promising to connect ordinary smartphones to satellites — a race that has drawn telecom partners, regulators and retail traders. AST is still in the buildout phase, so the stock tends to react sharply to execution milestones and deployment timelines.
It also lands as the “direct-to-device” market moves from demos to early service plans. Direct-to-device, sometimes called satellite-to-cell, refers to using satellites as “cell towers in space” to connect standard phones without special hardware, typically by working with carriers’ spectrum and network equipment.
A SpaceDaily report on Thursday said AST confirmed its BlueBird 6 satellite reached orbit after a late-December launch from India and highlighted the spacecraft’s large communications array. Chief executive Abel Avellan called BlueBird 6 “a breakthrough moment for AST SpaceMobile,” according to the report. SpaceDaily
AST’s stock traded with wide intraday swings, ranging from $69.39 to $83.90, underscoring how quickly sentiment can flip around technical milestones and rollout expectations.
The sector is crowded. SpaceX’s Starlink has pushed direct-to-cell deals with telecom partners, while Apple’s Emergency SOS feature uses Globalstar’s satellites for basic connectivity in areas without terrestrial coverage.
Regulatory friction remains a key overhang across the industry. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has approved certain Starlink direct-to-cell operations with conditions after objections from rivals over interference risk, highlighting how spectrum and power limits can shape service quality and timelines.
AST’s strategy relies on carrier partnerships to reach consumers. AT&T and AST struck a deal in 2024 to provide space-based broadband direct to phones, and AST later announced a direct-to-cellular tie-up with Verizon.
In Europe, Vodafone and AST said in late 2025 they planned a Europe-led satellite constellation for satellite-to-smartphone connectivity, adding another potential path to commercialization beyond the U.S.
What investors are watching next is whether BlueBird 6 can translate from a headline launch into consistent in-orbit performance — and whether AST can keep a steady manufacturing and launch cadence. The SpaceDaily report said company officials are targeting 45–60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026 with launches roughly every one to two months.
Traders also remain focused on funding and execution risk. Building and launching large satellites is capital-intensive, and companies in this segment can face setbacks from launch schedules, satellite commissioning delays and regulatory approvals.
From a technical standpoint, Friday’s move pushed ASTS back above the $80 level, with the day’s high near $84 now a reference point for short-term momentum traders. The low near $69 marks the other end of the band investors will watch for signs of cooling demand after the sharp run-up.
