So what I'm led to understand is that there's no deal with SpaceX and now Ergen's likely to choose the first option and order his own D2D constellation...

This is both bizarre and amusing, because AST refuses to identify the actual "entity" being acquired & this is only "spectrum priority right" not actual operations. Clearly trying to obscure the reality of those rights, when they expire, what usage is permitted etc

But it's not hard to discover that the "entity" in question appears to be the remnants of Sky and Space Global, a company with crazy plans to get into the MSS business that went public then failed years ago announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/2017032…

SSG had a ITU license through the UK and its UK entity just reported a change of control transaction to Companies House …te.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/098873…

The new reported owner of SSG is a company called Elliosat which was set up earlier this year and is controlled by two people based in Texas, who are presumably undertaking this transaction with AST …te.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/163986…

But the rights are extremely old, SSG launched its 3 sats in 2017 and it's far from clear this is worth anything (hence why most of the money is based on "milestones"). But $26M is cheap to distract from the delays... announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/2016071… space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/3-dia…

I put up a blog post summarizing the situation: Just don't mention the satellite delays... tmfassociates.com/blog/2025/08/0…

Tim Farrar

m🅰️n Bad business or fantasy future...it's a difficult choice...

m🅰️n That usage/pricing is fair in developed countries: current level is 1-2 messages per user (with a compatible device) per month. But the idea of getting to 3B users is unrealistic: you need an advanced smartphone plus the regulators need to authorize & MNOs allocate spectrum

LOL, the #cluelesscult inadvertently request exposure of how AST led investors up the garden path. They say 45-60 sats by end 2026 while knowing 60 are needed even at reduced elevation angle. Vodafone say 90 because Ofcom will require >20 deg elevation

AST SpaceMobile faces new spectrum challenges (and AT&T doesn't sound hugely confident that service will arrive as "planned" in 2026) fierce-network.com/wireless/ast-s…

Artificial intelligence has “broadened the reach” of hackers by letting them hit more targets with less effort, according to a cybersecurity expert. For businesses, the growing threat is scary—and potentially costly economist.com/business/2025/…

Rent free LOL...

Finally got round to writing my blog post summarizing my research note and the thread below tmfassociates.com/blog/2025/08/3…

As a point of comparison, SpaceX filed its SCS application on Feb 7, 2023 and it was placed on public notice on April 18, 2023. It took another 19 months (until Nov 26, 2024) before SCS was approved by the FCC docs.fcc.gov/public/attachm…

At ~7,800 kg, Nusantara Lima also is the second heaviest commercial GEO satellite to have launched. This record is currently being held by the EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter-3 satellite, which weighed ~9,200kg when it launched on a Falcon Heavy in 2023.

Presentation videos and photos from i14y Lab Summit 2025 - Implement & Consolidate - i14y-lab.com/i14y-lab-summi… #Free5Gtraining #3G4G5G #OpenRAN #ORANalliance #DeutscheTelekom #TelefónicaO2 #Germany #BMDS #RIMEDOLabs #Dell #ITRI #AnalogDevices

Fyi for background

$ASTS Scotiabank analyst gets it