AST SpaceMobile Inc. has launched its biggest satellite to date from India, marking the start of a series of deployments aimed at competing with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in delivering mobile connectivity from space.

Shares of AST SpaceMobile jumped over 3% in overnight trading.

The BlueBird 6 satellite was launched at 8:55 a.m. local time from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in southern India atop an LVM3 rocket from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It reached low-Earth orbit approximately 16 minutes into the flight, as streamed live on YouTube.

This successful launch is a significant milestone for the Texas-based company and a boost for India’s ambitious space program, which aims to establish its own orbital space station. The LVM3 rocket, which facilitated the launch, previously carried missions such as Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and two OneWeb missions, deploying a total of 72 satellites.

AST currently operates five smaller commercial satellites in orbit and plans to launch up to 60 more next-generation satellites by 2026.

The company aims to combine its satellites with traditional cellular networks to provide coverage in areas with limited or no connectivity. It has signed deals with major telecommunications companies such as AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc., and Vodafone Group Plc, among others.

AST expects to begin offering this service in parts of the US and four other countries by early 2026.

Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Starlink has established its own collaboration with T-Mobile US Inc., competing in the growing direct-to-device market.

AST SpaceMobile went public in April 2021 after merging with the special purpose acquisition company New Providence Acquisition Corp. As of the close of trading on Tuesday, the company’s stock price had increased by about 300% this year.