AST SpaceMobile Partners with Three Brazilian Telecoms for Direct-to-Cell Satellite Service

AST SpaceMobile has expanded into Brazil through commercial agreements with three local telecom operators to deliver direct-to-cell satellite service, extending mobile coverage to areas beyond terrestrial networks. Brisanet and Unifique announced on October 23 that they, together with Iez! Telecom, signed the agreements with AST SpaceMobile. Investment amounts and service launch dates were not disclosed. Under the deal, the three Brazilian operators will contribute their 700MHz spectrum holdings and invest in ground gateway infrastructure to link their mobile networks with AST SpaceMobile's satellite system. The satellite service will be integrated into the carriers' existing networks, with pricing set independently by each operator. The partnership aims to let users access satellite voice calls, broadband and video streaming through standard smartphones without hardware modifications, dedicated devices, software updates or app installations. Brisanet said satellite communications can fill gaps in terrestrial coverage, while Unifique views the deal as an incremental investment beyond fiber and 5G. Final terms remain under negotiation, and the service requires regulatory approvals before launch.