Through the successful completion of a two-way voice call using a regular Samsung Galaxy S22 connected to a low-Earth orbit satellite, AST SpaceMobile and AT&T earlier this year made a significant advancement in satellite-based cellular connectivity.
The company is now moving forward with providing this technology to consumers after this achievement, which was a significant turning point.
A recent round of tests by AST in Hawaii shown that unmodified phones on the ground could download data at 10 Mbps from the company’s BlueWalker 3 satellite. The goal of assuring uninterrupted connectivity is closer to being realised with this achievement of double-digit download speeds during satellite-to-smartphone testing.
At&T’s network chief Chris Sambar expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying, “This development takes us one step closer to ensuring that people across the United States will be able to stay connected no matter where they are.”
The next stage of AST’s concept involves connecting a phone to the BW3 satellite through a 5G signal. In September, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the prototype satellite into low-Earth orbit.
The BW3 satellite has the largest antenna among commercial satellites, at 693 square feet. Astronomers working in the night sky have faced difficulties due to the object’s size and brightness, which are both quite large.
In an effort to improve connection in neglected rural areas, AT&T is one of a small number of US carriers looking into satellite-based options. The Project Kuiper satellite network will be used for cellular access by Verizon and Amazon in 2021.
In a similar vein, T-Mobile and SpaceX have announced a partnership to test Starlink satellite system-compatible devices. T-Mobile has stated that current phones should work with their satellite services, similar to how AT&T has.
