[Starlink] AT&T, Google and Vodafone invest in satellite direct to device connectivityI

[Hesham ElBakoury <helbakoury@gmail.com>]

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"AT&T and Google joined existing investor Vodafone in a $155 million
strategic investment in AST SpaceMobile to fund its direct-to-device (D2D)
connectivity constellation.

AST SpaceMobile also plans to draw up to $51.5 million from an existing
debt facility and raise at least $100 million by selling discounted shares.

In addition, Vodafone and AT&T have placed purchase orders for network
equipment from AST SpaceMobile to support planned commercial service, while
Google and AST SpaceMobile agreed to collaborate on product development,
testing and implementation plans for network connectivity on Android and
related devices.

As well as AST SpaceMobile, Vodafone has previously formed
<https://inform.tmforum.org/features-and-opinion/a-week-in-telecoms-project-kuiper-deutsche-telekom-reliance-ecs-digital-markets-act>
a
partnership with Project Kuiper, Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite (LEO)
communications initiative, to extend the reach of 4G and 5G services in
Europe and Africa.

Indeed, several communications service providers (CSPs) are linking up with
satellite service providers to solve backhaul and rural connectivity
challenges, as well as gain access to D2D connectivity.

SpaceX recently launched the first six Starlink satellites to support
direct-to-cell and is working closely with TMobile US in this area."

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