As SpaceX makes enemies, rival AST SpaceMobile is picking up friends. Even though AST's timeline keeps slipping, carriers worry SpaceX is getting too powerful. This likely explains why AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have teamed up to prop up rival satellite players.
T-Mobile is now reportedly contemplating going a step further.
Leveling up
Speculation or reality? | Image by TheKOOKReport
AT&T and Verizon's satellite partner AST SpaceMobile recently announced it will activate intermittent service across the US by the end of the year. The company is even building its own Blacklift rocket to reduce its reliance on SpaceX and Blue Origin.
According to Fierce Network, Chairman and CEO Abel Avellan revealed that the company has teamed up with 60 operators worldwide, including two in the US. He added that "a new one [is], hopefully, coming very soon."
That third player is widely thought to be T-Mobile, though neither company has confirmed or denied the rumor.
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Avellan said AST needs its own rocket because it can't hitch enough rides with other launch providers, which hurts its launch cadence. AST needs hundreds of satellites, though its carrier partners are expected to begin trials early next year, by which point AST hopes to have 25 satellites in orbit.
Parting ways
There's a cold war brewing between incumbent carriers and SpaceX. Starlink first reached everyday smartphone users through T-Mobile. And now, T-Mobile seemingly wants to hand that spotlight to AST SpaceMobile instead.
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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