The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted AST SpaceMobile a 30-day special temporary authority. The company will test satellite-to-cellular capabilities using the 800 MHz spectrum. These tests will involve up to 100 commercial mobile devices.
The testing utilizes 817-824 MHz for uplink and 862-869 MHz for downlink bands. Grain Management recently acquired this spectrum portfolio from T-Mobile. The 800 MHz band provides signal propagation ideal for reaching smartphones in areas without terrestrial coverage.
This development follows a May joint venture agreement between AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. ASTS shares edged 1% higher in pre-market trading following the announcement.