ASTS secures 45 MHz L-band spectrum path for North America D2D
Key Questions
What spectrum path has ASTS secured for North America?
ASTS has secured a 45 MHz L-band spectrum path for direct-to-device (D2D) services in the US and Canada through a Ligado/Viasat/Inmarsat settlement spanning over 80 years in mid-band.
What are the details of the Ligado settlement for ASTS?
The settlement includes a $100M escrow approved over FCC opposition. It enables ASTS to use Ligado SkyTerra payloads on its satellites for North American D2D.
What opposition is there to ASTS's Ligado application?
Iridium is pushing back at the FCC, citing unauthorized control transfer, L-band interference, and MSS violation risks with Ligado SkyTerra payloads for ASTS satellites.
Ligado/Viasat/Inmarsat settlement 80+yr mid-band US/Canada; $100M escrow OK over FCC opp; Iridium pushing back at FCC on Ligado SkyTerra payloads for ASTS sats (unauthorized control transfer/L-band interference/MSS violation risks); Vodafone UK Ofcom Q/V Mar'26/Ireland D2D video/Wisniewski; vs Starlink monitor approvals/8-K/FCC. Space stocks comp notes regs risks.