U.S. FCC weighs opening additional 482 MHz to satellite services
Key Facts
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is considering making an additional 482 MHz available for Supplemental Coverage from Space, alongside offering 25 MHz at auction for direct-to-device services. Reuters said the commission will vote on October 29 to advance the new auction and hold an initial vote on updating the rules for these services. The agenda places spectrum expansion and regulatory changes on a single track to develop connections between phones and devices and satellites. Available information does not establish that the commission has adopted the proposals or that AST SpaceMobile shares rose in response. The stock closed at $42.3 on October 28, the session before the vote.
The proposal includes auctioning 25 MHz of wireless spectrum for direct-to-device services. It also proposes making an additional 482 MHz available for Supplemental Coverage from Space. The commission is considering updates to the rules governing these services, Reuters reported. Direct-to-device connectivity allows smartphones and other devices to connect directly to satellites. The proposals are scheduled for a vote on October 29, while available information does not report a final outcome.
The commission said in July that it was considering allowing ground-to-space communications in unlicensed frequency bands. The bands under consideration include 902–928 MHz, 2400–2483.5 MHz and 5725–5850 MHz. The commission then sought comment on questions related to interference and licensing, according to its fact sheet issued on July 16, 2026. Commissioner Anna Gomez said she was concerned about the impact of the new use on existing unlicensed uses in crowded bands. She called for detailed technical questions and studies to balance the uses, pointing to the regulatory challenges accompanying the expansion of satellite services.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the direct-to-device proposals aim to address areas without phone coverage. He added that the goal is to provide service from the next generation of satellite constellations to smartphones. These goals reflect the link between regulatory expansion and access to service in areas that lack phone coverage. In its second-quarter results update published in August, AST SpaceMobile said its partnerships include more than 60 mobile network operators. The partnerships cover, according to the company, more than 3 billion subscribers worldwide.
In the same update, the company said it aims to reach about 100 MHz of spectrum in the United States and more than 60 MHz globally. It also reported that its network includes 13 spacecraft in orbit and that it is preparing to begin trial services with strategic partners. The company is targeting 2026 revenue of between $150 million and $200 million, while second-quarter revenue was $31.5 million. These figures link its plans to access spectrum and build its network with its partnerships with telecom operators. The commission’s scheduled October 29 vote comes as it considers the regulatory framework for these services.