{"title":"AST SpaceMobile vs Iridium: Communications constellations compared","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/compare/ast-spacemobile-vs-iridium","comparison":"AST SpaceMobile ranks 11 on the Space 100 with a score of 85; Iridium ranks 24 with 80. AST SpaceMobile is ahead on production, technology and firepower. Iridium is ahead on deployment, commercials and progress. Level on positioning and leverage. AST SpaceMobile is based in Midland, United States, Iridium in McLean, United States. AST SpaceMobile: Public, founded 2017. Iridium: Subsidiary. AST SpaceMobile is named in 58 signals and Iridium in 23.","companies":[{"name":"AST SpaceMobile","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/companies/ast-spacemobile","city":"Midland","country":"United States","stage":"Public","founded":2017,"last_round":null,"positioning":"AST SpaceMobile is a US direct-to-device satellite company (Nasdaq:ASTS) with 13 BlueBird satellites in orbit (targeting ~45 by early 2027) and production ramping toward six satellites a month, with FY26 revenue guidance of $150-200M (Q2-26 revenue $31.5M against a $230.9M net loss). It holds $1.30B in contracted backlog, 60+ mobile-operator partnerships covering 3B+ subscribers, and $3.7B+ in liquidity, with consumer beta targeted for later 2026. A setback came in April 2026 when BlueBird-7 was stranded in an off-nominal orbit by a New Glenn second-stage anomaly (powered on and being assessed).","assessed_in":{"domain":"Space","list":"Space 100","rank":11,"score":85,"tier":"member","scores":{"leverage":8,"position":8,"progress":9,"firepower":10,"commercial":6,"deployment":9,"production":8,"technology":8},"why":"AST SpaceMobile sells direct-to-mobile satellite communications through the BlueBird network to telecom partners and their subscribers.","segment":"Communications constellations","layer":"Satellites & spacecraft"},"signals_total":58,"facts_total":172},{"name":"Iridium","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/companies/iridium","city":"McLean","country":"United States","stage":"Subsidiary","founded":null,"last_round":null,"positioning":"Iridium is a US satellite operator (Nasdaq:IRDM) running a 66-satellite operational L-band constellation with decades of continuous global service (voice, data, IoT, PNT) and FY25 revenue of ~$830M (75% recurring service). It is being acquired by Rocket Lab in a ~$8B pending deal, the largest space-sector M&A of the cycle, creating a vertically integrated space platform projected at ~$1.8B 2026 revenue near break-even. PNT (GPS-alternative timing) is its growth segment.","assessed_in":{"domain":"Space","list":"Space 100","rank":24,"score":80,"tier":"member","scores":{"gate_ne":["firepower"],"leverage":8,"position":8,"progress":10,"firepower":8,"commercial":9,"deployment":10,"production":6,"technology":6},"why":"Iridium operates a global satellite network providing voice, IoT, maritime safety, tracking, and satellite-to-device connectivity services to commercial, enterprise, and government customers.","segment":"Communications constellations","layer":"Satellites & spacecraft"},"signals_total":23,"facts_total":35}],"note":"Assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence; facts and signals carry their sources."}