New York, January 5, 2026, 12:53 (ET) — Regular session
- AST SpaceMobile shares rose about 5% as investors digested fresh signs of commercialization and launch momentum.
- AT&T said it plans a beta direct-to-device satellite service in the first half of 2026, with a broader rollout date still not set.
- Traders are watching BlueBird 7 launch preparations and the next quarterly update calendar.
AST SpaceMobile shares climbed on Monday after AT&T said it plans to begin a beta “direct-to-device” satellite service in the first half of 2026 using AST’s network, a step investors have been waiting for as the company pushes toward commercial use. Light Reading
The update matters now because AST is trying to prove it can scale from a handful of spacecraft to a working constellation that supports paying users. The stock has tended to swing with each milestone that tightens the link between launch progress and revenue timing.
Direct-to-device, sometimes called “direct-to-cell,” is satellite connectivity that works with standard smartphones without special hardware. A carrier-backed beta is one of the first tests of whether the service can move beyond demonstrations into broader, day-to-day use. Light Reading
AT&T said the initial beta would be offered to a “select number” of consumer customers and FirstNet public safety users within the next six months, with a commercial launch to follow, Light Reading reported. An AT&T spokesperson said it was still too early to give a specific date for expanding beyond the beta phase. Light Reading
The carrier and AST are also building ground infrastructure. AT&T has deployed four “ground gateways” — the satellite dishes and network equipment that route signals between satellites and the carrier’s terrestrial network — but more are needed for broader service across the United States, the report said. Light Reading
On the space side, AST has started its launch campaign for the next-generation BlueBird satellites, which carry large antenna arrays designed to deliver 4G and 5G broadband from low Earth orbit, the band of space used by many communications satellites. After BlueBird 6 launched on Dec. 23, the next satellite, BlueBird 7, arrived in Florida for integration with its launch vehicle, Via Satellite reported.
AST is aiming for a steady cadence that investors see as the key to valuation. The company has targeted 45 to 60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026 and has described launches every one to two months on average, according to the reports.
“BlueBird 6 is a breakthrough moment for AST SpaceMobile,” CEO Abel Avellan said in comments carried by Via Satellite. Via Satellite
AST shares were up 5.3% at $87.92 in midday trading, after moving between $81.22 and $90.72 earlier in the session.
Competition is also sharpening as U.S. carriers position for satellite-to-phone coverage. Light Reading pointed to T-Mobile’s partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink and Apple’s satellite messaging via Globalstar as benchmarks that keep pressure on rollout timelines.
But the upside case rests on execution. Any delay in launches, satellite deployment, or the buildout of gateways could push out service timelines and undermine the rollout narrative that has supported the stock’s recent volatility.
Next up, traders will look for updates on BlueBird 7 integration and any firmer timing on AT&T’s beta rollout, and they will watch the calendar for the company’s next quarterly update — Zacks lists March 2, 2026 as the next earnings report date.
