Summary by Futu AI
AST SpaceMobile has successfully completed the assembly of its first five commercial Bluebird satellites, featuring 693-square-foot communications arrays, marking a significant milestone in building the world's first space-based cellular broadband network. The satellites are scheduled for shipment to Cape Canaveral in early August, with a contracted 7-day launch window in September.The Bluebirds, built on the success of the BlueWalker 3 satellite, will provide U.S. nationwide non-continuous service with over 5,600 cells in premium low-band spectrum and a planned 10-fold increase in processing bandwidth. The satellites have undergone rigorous testing to ensure space operation readiness, with monitoring and final testing continuing until launch vehicle integration.During H1 2024, AST SpaceMobile secured strategic investments from major players including AT&T, Verizon, Google, and Vodafone. The company maintains agreements with over 45 mobile network operators globally, representing approximately 2.8 billion existing subscribers.