AST SpaceMobile(US:ASTS) Benzinga·2025-10-01 03:35Core Insights - AST SpaceMobile Inc. shares experienced a significant increase of 9.49% in after-hours trading, reaching $53.74, following news of its upcoming satellite launch schedule [2] - The company aims to have 45-60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026, with a focus on expanding its fleet and enhancing its service capabilities [5] Company Developments - The next-generation satellite, BlueBird 6, has completed final assembly and testing, set to be transported to India on October 12 [3] - BlueBird 7 is scheduled for shipment to Cape Canaveral in October, while BlueBirds 8 through 16 are in production, with launches planned every 1-2 months throughout 2025 and 2026 [4] Technical Specifications - The satellites will be the largest commercial satellites launched into low Earth orbit, featuring a 2,400-square-foot phased array, capable of handling up to 10,000 MHz of bandwidth and achieving peak speeds of 120 Mbps per cell [6] Partnerships and Market Reach - AST SpaceMobile has partnered with over 50 mobile network operators, reaching nearly 3 billion subscribers, utilizing a flexible spectrum strategy [7] - Vodafone has been a partner since 2018, collaborating on projects to enhance satellite mobile broadband deployment in Europe, including the world's first space-based video call using regular smartphones [8] Stock Performance - Over the past year, ASTS shares have increased by 87.69%, with a 132.61% gain in 2025, and the stock has fluctuated between $17.51 and $60.95 [9] - The company's market capitalization stands at $17.73 billion, with an average trading volume of 10.37 million shares [9]