Can ASTS' Satellite Connectivity Rollout Across Europe Lift Shares?

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Can ASTS' Satellite Connectivity Rollout Across Europe Lift Shares?

AST SpaceMobile ASTS is expanding its satellite-based mobile services across Europe, with testing underway in several countries alongside major operators, including Vodafone, Orange, Telefónica, Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone Ukraine. The company aims to connect regular smartphones directly to its satellites and extend mobile coverage without requiring special equipment.

AST SpaceMobile plans to strengthen its European footprint by integrating its satellites with existing mobile infrastructure through standard 3GPP technology. Gateway infrastructure developed through its European joint venture with Vodafone will support connections between satellites and ground mobile networks, helping operators extend coverage to remote and underserved areas across the region.

Globally, the company is working with nearly 60 mobile operators serving more than three billion subscribers. It recently launched the BlueBird 11, 12 and 13 satellites to expand its network. The new satellites feature the largest communications arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit and are designed to deliver peak data speeds of nearly 200 Mbps compared with the 98.9 Mbps achieved in earlier tests.

As its European integration efforts progress, AST SpaceMobile is positioning satellite connectivity as an extension of traditional mobile networks, with the potential to improve coverage and network resilience for consumers, businesses, emergency responders and government users.

How Are Other Competitors Performing?

AST SpaceMobile faces competition from Globalstar, Inc. GSAT and Viasat, Inc. VSAT. Globalstar provides satellite communication services for government and defense users. Its LEO satellite network helps maintain connectivity in remote areas where traditional networks may be unavailable or unreliable. The company supports data transmission, asset tracking and other communication needs for critical operations.

Viasat is advancing its satellite communication business through a United States Space Force contract to develop a resilient satellite system for protected military communications. The company is developing multi-orbit connectivity solutions for defense aircraft, allowing them to access different satellite networks. Viasat launched Tactical Mission Fabric, a service that combines satellite, 5G and other networks to provide reliable communications for military operations.

ASTS’ Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates

AST SpaceMobile shares have gained 56.7% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 32.8%.

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From a valuation standpoint, AST SpaceMobile trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 56.85, well above the industry average of 4.89.

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Earnings estimates for 2026 have declined 1.4% to a loss of $1.38 per share over the past 60 days, while the same for 2027 has decreased 10.5% to a loss of 42 cents per share.

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AST SpaceMobile currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Viasat Inc. (VSAT): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Globalstar, Inc. (GSAT): Free Stock Analysis Report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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