Latest news with #internetaccess
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Internet Slowly Trickles Back in Iran
Iranians on Saturday began to see some internet access restored, giving people the opportunity to call friends and family for the first time in days. Those in the diaspora posted on social media about connecting to FaceTime or WhatsApp to call relatives they had been worried about. Government officials had disconnected phone and web services earlier in the week for the more than 90 million people who live in Iran, citing cybersecurity threats from Israel. That left civilians unaware of when and where Israel would strike next, despite Israeli forces issuing warnings through their Persian-language online channels. When the missiles landed, lack of internet connection meant not knowing for hours or days if their family or friends are among the victims. Tasnim News Agency, which is closely affiliated with Iran's government, quoted the information minister as saying that access to 'international' internet should be restored across the country by 8 p.m.
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
AST SpaceMobile: A High-Risk, High-Reward Play on the Future of Connectivity
Forget what you thought you knew about satellite phones. While market attention remains fixed on artificial intelligence and quantum computing, a Texas-based company is making significant strides in its mission to revolutionize global internet access. AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) is on the verge of launching a commercial space-based cellular network that communicates directly with the smartphone in your pocket. After a volatile journey since its 2021 public debut, a series of critical developments in 2025 are bringing its ambitious vision into sharp focus. Here's what you need to know about this high-profile space stock. A work in progress AST SpaceMobile's first-quarter 2025 results underscored the capital demands of its ambitious mission, reporting a $63 million operating loss driven by heavy research and development (R&D) and manufacturing investments. But that figure now comes with important context. In a pivotal breakthrough, the company secured a term sheet granting it long-term (80-plus years) access to 45 megahertz (MHz) of premium lower mid-band spectrum in North America through a settlement with Ligado. To fund the deal, AST also lined up $550 million in non-recourse financing. This is a game-changing development. It locks in a vital strategic asset and injects substantial capital without shareholder dilution, resolving a major financial overhang and providing the company with a much clearer path forward. Armed with this backing, AST's projections look increasingly credible: gateway equipment bookings of roughly $10 million per quarter and its first major revenue surge, estimated at $50 million to $75 million, in the second half of 2025. The transition from R&D to commercial deployment is no longer theoretical. It's in motion. A market opportunity redefined The global mobile connectivity market is a behemoth, generating over $135 billion in 2024. Yet, vast swathes of the planet and billions of people remain disconnected due to the economic and geographical limitations of terrestrial cell towers. AST SpaceMobile aims to close this digital divide by transforming space into the ultimate cell tower. The company's next-generation Block 2 BlueBird satellites, featuring massive 2,400-square-foot communications arrays, are engineered to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth of their predecessors. This technological leap represents a fundamental reimagining of telecommunications infrastructure, offering solutions to challenges such as rural tower maintenance, the high cost of 5G densification, and network outages caused by natural disasters. A deepening competitive moat AST SpaceMobile's core advantage is its ability to deliver broadband directly to standard, unmodified smartphones -- eliminating the need for specialized terminals. Unlike traditional satellite internet providers, AST enables seamless roaming between terrestrial and space-based networks, creating a user experience that mirrors existing mobile coverage. That advantage just became more defensible. The company's new long-term agreement for premium L-Band spectrum is a strategic coup, establishing a regulatory and resource barrier that few can match. Combined with a growing patent portfolio and spectrum-sharing deals with major carriers like AT&T and Verizon, AST is locking in a lead that's increasingly hard to close. But urgency is rising. SpaceX's Starlink may be limited to text messaging in its Direct-to-Cell beta, yet it has already completed its first-generation satellite constellation -- proof of its rapid deployment capability. To rival AST's broadband ambitions, Starlink must still secure new spectrum access and enhance its hardware. However, its momentum highlights the importance of AST's early mover edge. Other players are also closing in. Lynk Global, backed by SES, is advancing commercial operations, signaling that the race for direct-to-device dominance is well underway. A valuation demanding a long-term view As of mid-June 2025, AST SpaceMobile has surged 81% year to date, lifting its market cap above $12.5 billion. For a company just beginning to generate revenue, this valuation is undeniably priced for the future. Traditional satellite operators, such as Iridium, offer limited benchmarks. A better comparison might be early-stage biotech or deep-tech firms -- businesses where value hinges on scalability and binary execution milestones. If AST succeeds in launching its commercial service and captures even a modest share of its massive addressable market, today's valuation may prove conservative. The upcoming launch cadence is pivotal. AST plans five orbital launches over the next six to nine months, beginning in July 2025. The goal is to enable continuous cellular broadband coverage across the U.S., Europe, and Japan by 2026. Execution on that timeline could mark the company's transition from promise to reality, thereby justifying the market's confidence. Risks remain, but so does the asymmetric upside The bullish case for AST SpaceMobile has sharpened. With financing secured and spectrum access locked in, the investment thesis now rests squarely on operational execution. The biggest risks are no longer financial -- they're physical. Satellite manufacturing is complex, and any launch failure could derail the rollout timeline. Regulatory headwinds may also emerge, particularly as astronomers raise concerns about light pollution and radio interference from growing satellite constellations. Still, for investors with high risk tolerance and a long-term horizon, AST offers a rare asymmetric opportunity. The company has cleared major technical, strategic, and financial hurdles. Now comes the hardest part: executing at scale. Success would mean not just delivering broadband from space, but reshaping the entire architecture of global connectivity. That's a transformation worth watching closely. Should you invest $1,000 in AST SpaceMobile right now? Before you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AST SpaceMobile wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $653,702!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $870,207!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is988% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to172%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AST SpaceMobile: A High-Risk, High-Reward Play on the Future of Connectivity
AST SpaceMobile is pioneering a space-based network to connect directly with standard smartphones, targeting a massive global market of underserved users. Recent landmark agreements for spectrum access and over half a billion dollars in potential new financing have significantly strengthened the company's competitive moat and financial standing. Backed by major telecom partners and validated by U.S. government contracts, the company is poised for its first Block 2 BlueBird satellite launch next month. 10 stocks we like better than AST SpaceMobile › Forget what you thought you knew about satellite phones. While market attention remains fixed on artificial intelligence and quantum computing, a Texas-based company is making significant strides in its mission to revolutionize global internet access. AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) is on the verge of launching a commercial space-based cellular network that communicates directly with the smartphone in your pocket. After a volatile journey since its 2021 public debut, a series of critical developments in 2025 are bringing its ambitious vision into sharp focus. Here's what you need to know about this high-profile space stock. AST SpaceMobile's first-quarter 2025 results underscored the capital demands of its ambitious mission, reporting a $63 million operating loss driven by heavy research and development (R&D) and manufacturing investments. But that figure now comes with important context. In a pivotal breakthrough, the company secured a term sheet granting it long-term (80-plus years) access to 45 megahertz (MHz) of premium lower mid-band spectrum in North America through a settlement with Ligado. To fund the deal, AST also lined up $550 million in non-recourse financing. This is a game-changing development. It locks in a vital strategic asset and injects substantial capital without shareholder dilution, resolving a major financial overhang and providing the company with a much clearer path forward. Armed with this backing, AST's projections look increasingly credible: gateway equipment bookings of roughly $10 million per quarter and its first major revenue surge, estimated at $50 million to $75 million, in the second half of 2025. The transition from R&D to commercial deployment is no longer theoretical. It's in motion. The global mobile connectivity market is a behemoth, generating over $135 billion in 2024. Yet, vast swathes of the planet and billions of people remain disconnected due to the economic and geographical limitations of terrestrial cell towers. AST SpaceMobile aims to close this digital divide by transforming space into the ultimate cell tower. The company's next-generation Block 2 BlueBird satellites, featuring massive 2,400-square-foot communications arrays, are engineered to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth of their predecessors. This technological leap represents a fundamental reimagining of telecommunications infrastructure, offering solutions to challenges such as rural tower maintenance, the high cost of 5G densification, and network outages caused by natural disasters. AST SpaceMobile's core advantage is its ability to deliver broadband directly to standard, unmodified smartphones -- eliminating the need for specialized terminals. Unlike traditional satellite internet providers, AST enables seamless roaming between terrestrial and space-based networks, creating a user experience that mirrors existing mobile coverage. That advantage just became more defensible. The company's new long-term agreement for premium L-Band spectrum is a strategic coup, establishing a regulatory and resource barrier that few can match. Combined with a growing patent portfolio and spectrum-sharing deals with major carriers like AT&T and Verizon, AST is locking in a lead that's increasingly hard to close. But urgency is rising. SpaceX's Starlink may be limited to text messaging in its Direct-to-Cell beta, yet it has already completed its first-generation satellite constellation -- proof of its rapid deployment capability. To rival AST's broadband ambitions, Starlink must still secure new spectrum access and enhance its hardware. However, its momentum highlights the importance of AST's early mover edge. Other players are also closing in. Lynk Global, backed by SES, is advancing commercial operations, signaling that the race for direct-to-device dominance is well underway. As of mid-June 2025, AST SpaceMobile has surged 81% year to date, lifting its market cap above $12.5 billion. For a company just beginning to generate revenue, this valuation is undeniably priced for the future. Traditional satellite operators, such as Iridium, offer limited benchmarks. A better comparison might be early-stage biotech or deep-tech firms -- businesses where value hinges on scalability and binary execution milestones. If AST succeeds in launching its commercial service and captures even a modest share of its massive addressable market, today's valuation may prove conservative. The upcoming launch cadence is pivotal. AST plans five orbital launches over the next six to nine months, beginning in July 2025. The goal is to enable continuous cellular broadband coverage across the U.S., Europe, and Japan by 2026. Execution on that timeline could mark the company's transition from promise to reality, thereby justifying the market's confidence. The bullish case for AST SpaceMobile has sharpened. With financing secured and spectrum access locked in, the investment thesis now rests squarely on operational execution. The biggest risks are no longer financial -- they're physical. Satellite manufacturing is complex, and any launch failure could derail the rollout timeline. Regulatory headwinds may also emerge, particularly as astronomers raise concerns about light pollution and radio interference from growing satellite constellations. Still, for investors with high risk tolerance and a long-term horizon, AST offers a rare asymmetric opportunity. The company has cleared major technical, strategic, and financial hurdles. Now comes the hardest part: executing at scale. Success would mean not just delivering broadband from space, but reshaping the entire architecture of global connectivity. That's a transformation worth watching closely. Before you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and AST SpaceMobile wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $653,702!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $870,207!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 988% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 George Budwell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. AST SpaceMobile: A High-Risk, High-Reward Play on the Future of Connectivity was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grants provide opportunity for rural broadband access
Homes in rural sections of Frederick County might be able to get financial help to get broadband internet access, and the county's government will hold two meetings to provide help in the process. County officials and workers from two telecommunications companies will hold two meetings in June and July with information on applying for grants to help get access to the service. The meetings will be held at 6 p.m. on: • June 24 at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St. • July 8 at Middletown Branch Library, 31 E. Green St. The grants can help provide high-speed internet access to homes too far from existing service lines to get it now, Jeff Chamberlain, manager of IT broadband and enterprise project management for Frederick County, said in a press release announcing the meetings. The meetings will help make sure eligible residents have the information they need to get improved broadband services, he said. Chamberlain will present information about the county's role in improving broadband service. Grants Manager Mike Simons will give details about areas covered by the grants. Representatives from Comcast and Shenandoah Telecommunications Company will have additional information on availability, costs, timelines, and construction of service. A 2020 study by the county identified three areas of the county unserved by broadband service. One area was north of Thurmont to the Pennsylvania border. Another stretched along the county's eastern border from the Pennsylvania line to north of Md. 26. The third area in the southern corner of the county stretched along the Montgomery County boundary from the Monocacy River to west of Interstate 270. Frederick County Council Member Mason Carter, whose district represents much of the northern part of the county, said in an interview that it's exciting that more people in the county and his district could get access to better internet service. 'It's certainly something that comes up from time to time,' he said. Access to better internet service could significantly benefit businesses in the rural parts of the county, as well as residents, Carter said. — Ryan Marshall
CNA
11-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Philippines' Globe Telecom CEO urges government to speed up plans to improve country's connectivity
The CEO of Philippine group Globe Telecom has urged the government to speed up plans to provide every Filipino with access to telecommunications and the Internet. Carl Raymond Cruz spoke to CNA's Buena Bernal about what needs to be done to bridge the digital divide.
