AST SpaceMobile stock jumps about 7% today as ASTS leads space-telecom movers
New York, Jan 2, 2026, 13:08 ET — Regular session AST SpaceMobile shares rose about 7% on Friday, bucking a slightly softer tech tape in early afternoon trading. The stock was up $5.22 at $77.85, after ranging from $69.39 to $78.07. The move puts fresh attention on execution risks and milestones for space-based “direct-to-device” connectivity — the push to link standard smartphones to satellites when ground networks are unavailable. AST’s latest swing comes after the company’s BlueBird 6 satellite reached orbit late last month, a key step as it expands its low Earth orbit fleet — satellites operating relatively close