November 11, 2025: AST SpaceMobile has confirmed a six-month delay in the commercial launch of its satellite constellation due to supplier bottlenecks, manufacturing challenges, and technical hurdles related to its core antenna system.
The company’s next milestone will be the launch of BlueBird 6 (FM1) aboard an Indian rocket in early December 2025, followed shortly by BlueBird 7, which has already been shipped to Cape Canaveral. The satellites will continue the testing phase following the success of BlueWalker-3, which features a record 64-square-meter antenna — the largest deployed commercially in low Earth orbit.
Despite delays, Chairman and CEO Abel Avellan emphasized that AST remains on track to build momentum, citing newly signed definitive agreements with Verizon and Saudi Telecom Group.
“BlueBird 8 to 19 are in various stages of production, and we are on schedule to complete 40 satellites equivalent of microns by early 2026, bringing us to BlueBird 46,” Avellan stated.
AST SpaceMobile has also secured over $1 billion in contracted revenue commitments from global partners and a ninth U.S. government contract, underscoring strong market demand for its space-based cellular broadband network.
President Scott Wisniewski hinted at progress in Europe, noting that AST’s partnership with Vodafone could align with the European Commission’s IRIS2 mega-constellation program. He confirmed that 21 of Europe’s top 25 operators are expected to be part of AST’s network.
While AST refrained from confirming new contracts, industry analysts suggest an IRIS2 agreement is highly likely, positioning the company as a key player in the emerging European space communications landscape
