By Connor Hart

AST SpaceMobile said it plans to launch the first of its next-generation satellites next month, advancing its plan to enable cellular broadband coverage direct to everyday smartphones from space.

Shares gained 6.8%, to $54.14, in premarket trading Friday. Through Thursday's close, the stock has more than doubled in value over the past year.

The Midland, Texas, company said before Friday's opening bell that its new satellite, BlueBird 6, is scheduled to launch on Dec. 15 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India.

BlueBird 6 is roughly three-and-a-half times larger than the company's previous satellites, supporting 10 times the data capacity, it said.

With the launch, AST SpaceMobile said it will accelerate production of new satellites, expecting five orbital launches by the end of next year's first quarter. The company plans to launch satellites every one to two months, on average, next year, reaching up to 60 total satellites launched by the end of the year and supporting continuous broadband coverage across the U.S.

"Our next-generation satellites will soon enable ubiquitous cellular broadband coverage direct to everyday smartphones from space," Chief Executive Abel Avellan said.

Write to Connor Hart at connor.hart@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 21, 2025 08:26 ET (13:26 GMT)

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