AST SpaceMobile connects the globe from Midland’s Spaceport Business Park HQ

Midland telecommunications company AST SpaceMobile, Inc. is at the center of early global communication headlines in 2025. In January, the company’s satellites were behind the first space mobile video call, and other major milestones in 2024 further served AST SpaceMobile’s mission of connecting the entire globe. Headquartered in the Midland Spaceport Business Park at the Midland International Air & Space Port, AST SpaceMobile is one of many success stories for Midland businesses in the aerospace, defense, and adjacent industries. 

AST SpaceMobile furthers global connectivity

Establishing easily accessible global mobile calls and video calls is a long-time goal of telecommunications providers. Niche products met these needs, but no option existed utilizing standard mobile phones and smartphones for applications requiring a higher bandwidth. A video chat in January using low earth orbit BlueBird satellites created by AST SpaceMobile changed everything. On January 28, Vodafone completed the first space video call using a standard 4G/5G smartphone and signals sent via the BlueBird satellites. The call provided connectivity in a region of Wales previously unserved by standard mobile communications. 

Vodafone has both a long-term commercial agreement and strategic investments with AST SpaceMobile and plans to gradually rollout the satellite service as a complementary technology to boost Europe’s communications infrastructure and increase resiliency in both Europe and Africa. AST SpaceMobile’s mobile broadband network in space also received strategic investments from Google and AT&T in 2024. The company has secured the necessary orbital launch capacity to provide space-based cellular broadband service for the U.S. Europe, Japan, the U.S. government, and other strategic markets worldwide as of a November 2024 business update.

AST SpaceMobile’s goal is to bring broadband to unserved and underserved mobile customers across the globe. By eliminating connectivity gaps, billions of people will be able to initiate connections using readily available mobile devices while over 5 billion existing mobile customers will enjoy service in more remote and rural locations.

Midland’s commitment to space manufacturing

AST SpaceMobile joined the Midland Spaceport Business Park in 2018 after a competitive search for a high-volume satellite manufacturing plant and corporate headquarters in North America, according to a 2018 press release. The space tech company moved into a new 85,000-square-foot facility in the business park constructed in partnership with the Midland Development Corporation. In the release, AST SpaceMobile noted the benefits of locating next to the Midland International Air & Space Port. 

“Our revolutionary technology will change the way satellites are manufactured, launched and used in space and on Earth. From Midland, we will scale up quickly to produce high quantities of low-cost, ultra-powerful LEO satellite platforms,” AST SpaceMobile CEO Abel Avellan said in the 2018 release. “This will open up an astonishing range of commercial and defense applications not previously possible with traditional satellite manufacturing techniques.”

As of 2025, AST SpaceMobile’s state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities in Midland covered 185,000 square feet in the business park.

Midland Development Corporation remains committed to helping new and relocating aerospace, defense, and other companies grow in Midland. Click here to learn more about the Midland Spaceport Business Park or contact MDC today to explore Midland.