Riyadh — Saudi Telecom Company (stc) has signed a 10-year strategic partnership with AST & Science, LLC (AST SpaceMobile) to expand satellite-based communication services and provide seamless coverage in areas beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.
The agreement, announced on October 29, 2025, aligns with stc’s mission to enhance connectivity and advance digital inclusion across Saudi Arabia and multiple countries in the Middle East and Africa. The collaboration leverages AST SpaceMobile’s direct-to-device (D2D) satellite technology, which enables connectivity directly to unmodified smartphones.
According to a filing on Tadawul, the partnership’s value could exceed 9% of stc’s 2024 audited revenue. With total 2024 revenue reported at SAR 75.9 billion, the contract’s estimated value may reach approximately SAR 7 billion, based on a revenue-sharing model tied to actual service usage.
The partnership grants stc exclusive rights to operate satellite services in Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Djibouti, Tunisia, and Sudan, along with preferential commercial terms in Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt, ensuring parity with the best terms provided to any other operator.
stc will serve as the primary operator offering services directly to individual customers, as well as wholesale access for other mobile and virtual network operators. The company expects a positive financial impact from the partnership, with revenues recognized gradually throughout the contract term.
By integrating AST SpaceMobile’s satellite technology, stc aims to extend network coverage nationwide, improve customer experience, and bridge connectivity gaps in remote regions — supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader digital transformation and Vision 2030 objectives.
