AST SpaceMobile rose 12% Monday after saying its Block 1 BlueBird satellites can deliver peak download speeds of 98.9 Mbps, with next-generation satellites expected to nearly double that rate.
The rally also came ahead of first-quarter results, where Wall Street expects a 24-cent-per-share loss, about $39 million in revenue and a net loss of nearly $87 million.
AST still relies on U.S. government work and gateway ground-station deliveries for revenue, but it is targeting commercial service in the second half of 2026.
Between 45 and 60 satellites are needed for continuous coverage in markets including the U.S. and Japan, making this year's launch cadence critical after BlueBird 7 missed its intended orbit.
The stock has more than tripled over 12 months despite ongoing losses, as investors bet AST can win direct-to-device business against far larger rivals including SpaceX and Amazon.
With Amazon now targeting iPhones via Globalstar, is AST SpaceMobile underestimating its newest rival in the direct-to-device race?
After a critical rocket failure, can AST SpaceMobile salvage its 2026 commercial debut, or is its ambitious timeline now in jeopardy?