en.Wedoany.com Reported - AST SpaceMobile submitted Brazil's first "filing" application for a non-geostationary orbit (NGEO) constellation to the country in June, consisting of hundreds of satellites for direct-to-device applications, with coverage optimized for Brazil. Filing is a necessary process for international orbital slot and spectrum coordination, managed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with countries submitting applications through their international representatives (in Brazil, the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel)). Brazil currently has no filings for such constellations. If accepted by Anatel, the application will be submitted for global coordination. The application involves satellite spectrum bands, IMT frequencies for terrestrial operations, and gateway operating bands.

Brazil's orbital slots grant the applicant country priority and jurisdiction over the constellation, but Brazil cannot arbitrarily apply for slots with the ITU due to occupancy deadlines; failure to meet these deadlines results in loss of priority.

Although AST SpaceMobile is not a Brazilian company, Brazil can require the applicant to assume certain obligations (such as coverage, local gateways, etc.) to operate under the country's coordinated slots and frequencies. This mechanism is particularly critical when a country seeks a degree of sovereignty over constellations operating within its territory.

AST SpaceMobile's application for Brazil's NGEO slots is part of its global competition: the company is striving to secure footholds worldwide. In the U.S. (where AST is based), only entities holding local spectrum rights can apply for global coordination through the country. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules currently primarily favor Starlink, which AST is challenging with local regulators. Until then, the company is securing as many operational rights as possible through other countries, having already submitted filings via the UK and Germany, and is now seeking to file directly through Brazil.

Recently, Anatel authorized AST to operate in the S-band in Brazil with a bandwidth of 10 MHz + 10 MHz. Starlink challenged Anatel's band allocation plan and filed an appeal along with a request for a stay. Last week, the agency's president, Carlos Baigorri, rejected the stay request, and the substance of the appeal will be reviewed by the board.