Verizon Cleared for Direct-to-Cell

The FCC just gave AST SpaceMobile and Verizon the green light to deliver satellite-to-phone service on Verizon’s 800 MHz spectrum, dismissing interference worries from SpaceX and T-Mobile along the way. This move opens the door for Verizon to offer satellite connectivity as a premium add-on, potentially boosting coverage and reliability for millions. But there’s a twist: while AT&T has already inked an anchor deal with AST, Verizon hasn’t named a satellite partner yet, fueling speculation as rivals like SpaceX/T-Mobile and Amazon (which just snapped up Globalstar for $11 billion) race to secure their own footholds.

Execution remains the wildcard. AST’s ambitious plan for 45 satellites by late 2026 is under pressure after a failed BlueBird launch and delays from Blue Origin’s grounded rockets. Most “direct-to-device” offerings are limited to basic texting for now, even as SpaceX touts much faster speeds and Ookla points to a 25% jump in connections over the past year. Still, adoption is lagging, and all eyes are on whether Verizon can lock in a commercial partner and announce pilot markets in the coming year.

The legal backdrop is heating up too, as the Supreme Court weighs how hard the FCC can crack down on carriers for location data mishandling—with Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kavanaugh openly questioning the stakes.

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