SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile Eye $6B in Spectrum Licenses for Direct-to-Device Voice Services

SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile are vying for $6 billion in spectrum licenses that would allow them to offer satellite-based voice services directly to consumer phones. The companies aim to tap into a lucrative market, with the FCC's recent sale of an 800 MHz spectrum portfolio to Grain Management valued between $2.9 billion and $3.6 billion. This development has been welcomed by AST SpaceMobile as a positive step for the sector.

AST SpaceMobile has already secured Special Temporary Authority from the FCC in August 2026 to test satellite connectivity on specific 800 MHz frequencies, covering the 817 to 824 MHz uplink range and 862 to 869 MHz downlink range. Meanwhile, SpaceX has been aggressively acquiring spectrum licenses, with deals reportedly totaling between $17 billion and $19.6 billion tied to EchoStar.

The FCC's regulatory framework in 2026 has advanced rules allowing AST SpaceMobile to use low-band frequencies in the 700 and 800 MHz ranges through carrier partnerships. This move signals that regulators see satellite-to-phone connectivity as a legitimate evolution of mobile telecommunications, but also raises concerns about spectrum sharing between satellite operators and terrestrial carriers.