AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) has made a major achievement in space-based cellular communications with its BlueWalker 3 technology. In recent tests conducted in Hawaii, unmodified smartphones were able to access 4G speeds, surpassing download speeds of 10 Mbps.
The development has caused AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) stock to surge by 7.03% in the pre-market trading Wednesday.
Engineers from AST SpaceMobile conducted the tests in June, using everyday smartphones that anyone can purchase. They utilized AT&T spectrum and Nokia RA technology to conduct 4G LTE download speed tests. The initial speeds of 10.3 Mbps were impressive, and additional tests included evaluating voice calls to AT&T employees.
The evaluation of BlueWalker 3’s capabilities is still ongoing, with the next major test activity focused on enabling 5G cellular broadband.
