AST SpaceMobile Expands Brazil Operations with Anatel Spectrum Approval, Four Regional Operator Agreements and Planned Ground Infrastructure
AST SpaceMobile, a company developing a space-based cellular broadband network designed to connect directly with everyday smartphones, has announced significant progress toward expanding its services in Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy. The initiative combines new spectrum authorizations, partnerships with regional mobile network operators and plans for additional ground infrastructure to support expanded cellular connectivity across the country.
The company has secured authorization from Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency, known as Anatel, for S-band spectrum and received regulatory approval for the secondary use of spectrum in the 700 MHz band. AST SpaceMobile has also signed agreements with four regional mobile network operators and announced plans to establish four ground gateways in Brazil to support its satellite-based connectivity services.
These developments are intended to help extend cellular broadband beyond the reach of traditional terrestrial mobile networks. AST SpaceMobile aims to work with mobile operators to provide voice calls, broadband data and video streaming directly to standard, unmodified smartphones, subject to network deployment, device compatibility, regulatory requirements and commercial arrangements.
Spectrum Approvals Strengthen Brazil Expansion Strategy
Spectrum availability is a critical component of satellite-based cellular communications because it determines the radio frequencies that can be used to transmit signals between satellites and compatible mobile devices. AST SpaceMobile’s latest regulatory progress provides additional resources to support its planned services in Brazil.
Anatel’s authorization covers 15+15 MHz of S-band spectrum, representing a total of 30 MHz for AST SpaceMobile’s planned operations in the country. The approval provides an important foundation for developing the company’s space-based cellular broadband service.
In addition, Anatel has approved the secondary use of spectrum in the 700 MHz band. Agreements with four regional mobile network operators support AST SpaceMobile’s authorized secondary use of up to 10+10 MHz, or a total of 20 MHz, within the operators’ respective licensed service areas.
Together, these spectrum resources provide the company with access to 30 MHz in the S-band and up to 20 MHz in the 700 MHz band. The complementary frequencies are expected to support its efforts to extend connectivity across areas where terrestrial mobile coverage is limited or unavailable.
The regulatory approval and operator agreements also demonstrate the importance of cooperation between satellite network providers and established telecommunications companies. By working with operators that already serve Brazilian customers, AST SpaceMobile can build on existing market relationships while developing a complementary connectivity layer.
Addressing Brazil’s Connectivity Challenges
Brazil represents a substantial opportunity for satellite-enabled mobile broadband because of its large population, extensive territory and uneven distribution of terrestrial network coverage.
The country has more than 210 million people and covers approximately 8.5 million square kilometers. Although mobile networks serve many population centers, significant connectivity gaps remain across remote communities, agricultural regions and transportation corridors.
Assessments cited by AST SpaceMobile indicate that approximately half of Brazil’s federal and state highway network lacks 4G or 5G coverage. The company also points to coverage gaps affecting roughly two-thirds of land available for agricultural use.
These limitations can affect individuals, businesses and industries that depend on reliable mobile communications. Drivers traveling through remote areas may encounter extended periods without service, while agricultural operations can face difficulties accessing digital tools and connected services across large properties.
Communities outside major urban centers may also have fewer opportunities to access reliable broadband infrastructure. Expanding connectivity could help improve communication, support digital services and strengthen access to information in underserved areas.
AST SpaceMobile’s proposed satellite network is designed to complement existing terrestrial infrastructure by extending cellular broadband into areas where conventional mobile networks cannot provide consistent coverage. Rather than requiring customers to rely exclusively on specialized satellite phones, the company’s approach aims to connect directly with standard smartphones.
The planned service is intended to enable voice calls, broadband data and video streaming through participating mobile operators. Actual availability will depend on satellite capacity, network deployment, regulatory permissions and integration with operator systems.
Four Regional Operators Expand AST SpaceMobile’s Partnerships
The agreements with four regional mobile network operators represent another important milestone in AST SpaceMobile’s Brazilian expansion strategy.
Regional operators can provide established customer relationships, licensed spectrum resources and knowledge of local telecommunications markets. Their participation can help satellite network providers develop services that complement existing mobile offerings rather than operate independently of the terrestrial telecommunications ecosystem.
Under the announced arrangements, the regional operators will support the authorized secondary use of spectrum in the 700 MHz band within their respective licensed areas. These agreements expand AST SpaceMobile’s relationships in Brazil and strengthen the foundation for a broader service footprint.
Together with the company’s existing mobile network operator partners in Brazil, the new relationships are intended to help extend space-based cellular broadband coverage nationwide. The objective is to reach millions of people who remain unconnected or have limited access to reliable mobile services.
AST SpaceMobile has established a global network of more than 60 mobile network operator partners, collectively serving more than three billion subscribers. This partnership model allows the company to combine its satellite infrastructure with the local reach, customer relationships and telecommunications expertise of established operators.
For participating mobile network operators, satellite connectivity could provide an additional way to extend their coverage beyond the limits of conventional cell towers. For customers, the intended benefit is access to mobile broadband in more locations without necessarily requiring a separate satellite-specific handset.
The partnerships also provide a framework for integrating space-based services into existing telecommunications offerings as satellite capacity becomes available.
Four Planned Ground Gateways to Support Satellite Connectivity
Alongside its spectrum and partnership developments, AST SpaceMobile is planning to invest in four ground gateways in Brazil. These facilities are expected to play a central role in connecting the company’s satellite network with terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure.
Ground gateways provide communication links between satellites and networks on the ground. They help route information between space-based systems and the networks that ultimately deliver services to users.
The planned Brazilian facilities are intended to connect AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellite network with participating mobile operators. This infrastructure will support the transmission of voice, video and broadband data between satellite and terrestrial systems.
AST SpaceMobile describes its BlueBird satellites as the largest satellites ever deployed in low Earth orbit. The company also reports that its technology portfolio is supported by more than 3,900 patent and patent-pending claims.
The satellite network and planned ground infrastructure are designed to work together to extend mobile connectivity beyond the reach of conventional terrestrial networks. The gateways will be an important component of this architecture, helping establish the links required to integrate satellite capacity with mobile operator systems.
Planning is underway to support the deployment of the facilities and their integration with participating operators. The pace at which services become available will depend on the installation of infrastructure, the deployment of satellite capacity and the completion of required network integration activities.
AST SpaceMobile Targets a Third Layer of Connectivity
Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AST SpaceMobile, said Brazil’s connectivity ambitions reflect the scale and needs of the country. He explained that the company is bringing together spectrum resources, operator relationships and ground infrastructure to establish an additional layer of connectivity across Brazil.
The company’s strategy is to work with mobile network operators to give subscribers a path to cellular broadband from space. This approach is intended to help operators extend their coverage wherever customers live, work and travel, including locations that are difficult or uneconomical to reach through terrestrial infrastructure alone.
The concept of a third layer of connectivity reflects the potential combination of conventional terrestrial networks, satellite communications and integrated services designed to bridge coverage gaps. For mobile operators, this model could offer an additional tool for expanding geographic coverage without relying exclusively on the construction of new terrestrial network infrastructure.
However, satellite-based cellular broadband is intended to complement rather than automatically replace existing mobile networks. Service performance and availability will depend on the number of satellites deployed, network capacity, spectrum conditions, ground infrastructure and local regulatory requirements.
Building a Foundation for Long-Term Growth
AST SpaceMobile’s latest developments mark a significant step in its efforts to establish space-based cellular broadband services in Brazil. The combination of S-band authorization, approved secondary use of the 700 MHz band, agreements with four regional operators and plans for four ground gateways creates a foundation for further deployment.
The opportunity extends beyond individual smartphone users. Improved connectivity could benefit transportation, agriculture, logistics, emergency communications and other activities that depend on reliable access to mobile networks across large geographic areas.
For Brazil, additional connectivity options could help address coverage gaps in remote and underserved regions. For AST SpaceMobile and its telecommunications partners, the market provides an opportunity to develop services that combine satellite infrastructure with established mobile networks and customer relationships.
The company’s next steps will focus on deploying satellite capacity, developing the planned ground infrastructure and integrating the network with participating operators. Commercial availability will expand as these activities progress, subject to applicable authorizations, compatible devices and commercial arrangements.
With its latest regulatory approvals and regional partnerships, AST SpaceMobile is advancing its strategy to bring direct-to-smartphone satellite broadband to more users in Brazil. The initiative highlights the growing role of satellite technology in extending mobile coverage and creating new opportunities for connectivity across geographically expansive markets.
