Brazil Approves AST's 30 MHz Spectrum and Plans 4 Satellite Gateways

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 26, the U.S. satellite communications company AST SpaceMobile obtained authorization from Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to use S-band spectrum, permitting the company to use a total of 30 MHz of spectrum in Brazil to provide direct-to-device satellite services. The company also obtained secondary use permission for the 700 MHz band, reached cooperation agreements with 4 Brazilian regional mobile operators, and plans to invest in the construction of 4 satellite ground gateways to connect the BlueBird low-Earth-orbit satellite network with local mobile communications infrastructure.

The S-band authorization comprises two 15 MHz spectrum blocks, totaling 30 MHz. The 700 MHz band will be used through cooperation with regional operators, involving up to 10 MHz each for uplink and downlink, totaling up to 20 MHz, with use limited to the areas where each cooperating operator holds a license. The two sets of spectrum resources correspond respectively to the access arrangements for the satellite communications system and the local mobile networks, and are planned to support ordinary smartphones in making voice calls, transmitting broadband data, and conducting video communications directly via satellite.

The ground infrastructure construction plan includes 4 satellite gateways, responsible for connecting the BlueBird satellite constellation with Brazilian mobile operator networks and handling voice, video, and broadband data transmission between the satellites and ground networks. AST SpaceMobile is carrying out gateway deployment and network integration planning with its partner operators; the related facilities will interconnect with local mobile networks to support satellite communications capacity access and service transmission.

The 4 regional operators will utilize their respective existing mobile communications networks and spectrum resources to participate in the deployment of direct-to-device satellite services. This cooperation will also connect with AST SpaceMobile's previously established mobile operator partnerships in Brazil, advancing service access in accordance with satellite capacity, ground gateway deployment, and network integration progress.