Does anyone else feel a little guilty because you've been following/ loving pretty much everything Elon does for decades... spaceX, Tesla, boring, neuralink... But you've YOLO'd everything you have into $ASTS because it's going to decimate starlink D2C?
$ASTS ✨
🇳🇴 Norges Bank Initiates Position in AST SpaceMobile
Norges Bank, manager of Norway's sovereign wealth fund, disclosed a new position in AST SpaceMobile during Q4 2025.
• Acquired approximately 2.72 million shares
• Position valued at roughly $200 million
• Represents a significant institutional vote of confidence
• Highlights growing interest in the direct-to-device satellite market
AST SpaceMobile is building a space-based cellular broadband network designed to connect directly with everyday smartphones through partners including AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone.
The investment by one of the world's largest institutional investors may be viewed as another signal of confidence in AST's long-term commercial opportunity and global expansion potential.
#ASTS #ASTSpaceMobile #NorgesBank #Satellite #DirectToCell #SpaceTech
https://t.co/yqnqjL24f7
$ASTS After reading this commentary from T-Mobile CFO, I asked Grok how @AST_SpaceMobile sat solution addresses the issues raised regarding Starlink tech and this was the response:
How AST SpaceMobile's satellites address the issuesAST SpaceMobile builds a space-based cellular broadband network that connects directly to standard, unmodified smartphones (no special hardware, apps, or satellite phones needed). It partners with mobile network operators (MNOs) like AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, and others to use their licensed spectrum and integrate seamlessly with terrestrial networks.
https://t.co/rBiMPTyfbR +1
Here’s how their BlueBird satellites (and the upcoming larger Block 2 versions) directly counter the CFO’s physics-based objections:Overcoming signal power and penetration (the "path loss" and indoor/car problem):
BlueBird satellites deploy the largest commercial phased-array antennas ever flown in LEO—~693 sq ft for the first five Block 1 satellites already in orbit, scaling to ~2,400 sq ft (3x larger) for Block 2 with 10x the data capacity. These massive, electronically steerable arrays provide enormous antenna gain and highly focused beams, dramatically improving the link budget (effective signal strength delivered to the phone) despite orbital distance.
https://t.co/rBiMPTyfbR +1
Critically, they use premium low-band and mid-band spectrum (e.g., AT&T/Verizon’s 850 MHz low-band in the U.S., plus their own global holdings). Low-band frequencies propagate farther and penetrate buildings, glass, vehicles, and obstacles far better than higher-frequency bands. This is the exact counter to the "not enough signal to overcome roofs/glass/modern vehicles" limitation.
https://t.co/r94WKEWhQU +1
Early tests with their BlueWalker 3 prototype and Block 1 BlueBirds already demonstrated 4G/5G voice calls, texts, video calls, and data speeds (10–21+ Mbps) to unmodified phones—real-world proof of viable indoor/outdoor performance in targeted areas.
https://t.co/9A7oeI0YeV
Solving capacity and beam-size constraints:
The huge phased arrays enable narrow, high-intensity beams (not Manhattan-sized footprints serving only ~10 users). Larger antennas create tighter beams with higher power density per user area, supporting far more concurrent connections and true broadband (voice + data + video streaming) at peak speeds up to 120 Mbps per coverage cell. Each BlueBird has ~100x the bandwidth/capacity of a typical Starlink D2C satellite.
https://t.co/L31ztqGcNF +1
Block 2 satellites add even more processing power and beamforming flexibility, allowing millions of daily connections while avoiding interference with ground networks. The design treats satellites like "cell towers in space" rather than retrofitting broadband satellites for limited D2C use.
https://t.co/VhdF7Dpbnk
Overall system design advantages vs. the critiqued approach:
AST’s satellites orbit in LEO (similar altitudes to Starlink) but are purpose-built and far more capable per satellite. The constellation plan calls for ~168 satellites for global coverage (far fewer than Starlink’s thousands for D2C), because each one carries vastly more power, spectrum access, and antenna area. This avoids the "catch-22" of needing endless small satellites while still delivering reliable broadband where terrestrial coverage is uneconomical.
https://t.co/bo53YmHC6k
It’s explicitly a complementary extension of MNO networks (handing off seamlessly when you leave tower range), aligning with the CFO’s view of the role satellites should play—but with technology that pushes the performance envelope well beyond basic outdoor/texting service.
In summary, the CFO’s critique applies to certain D2C implementations (like the one T-Mobile has partnered on), but AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird architecture—massive phased arrays + low-band spectrum + advanced beamforming—is specifically designed to deliver the strong, penetrating, high-capacity signals needed for real mobile broadband. They’ve already proven key milestones (voice/video/data to unmodified phones) and are scaling the constellation now (5 Block 1 satellites in orbit, more launches planned throughout 2025–2026)
In phased array satellite communications, three things matter: aperture size, beam-forming precision, spectrum bandwidth. $ASTS is leading on aperture (16x larger) and has 45MHz of premium spectrum. Starlink has scale, manufacturing speed, and software. These optimize for different use cases — AST for unmodified-phone connectivity at speed, Starlink for high-volume modest-bitrate coverage. Different products, different physics. Not winner-take-all.
One week later, incredible progress. It’s a 24/7 operation with a solid path forward to launch this year, helped by a lot of luck. @NASA and @USSpaceForce have both been extremely helpful.
This team. Never tell them the odds.
@elonmusk Love musk and SpaceX. But this is dwarfed by @AST_SpaceMobile 🧇. Largest satellites in orbit.
98 Mbits direct to cellphone on their smaller sats 👍