AST SpaceMobile vs SES: Communications constellations compared

November 2026 edition · assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence

AST SpaceMobile ranks 11 on the Space 100 with a score of 85; SES ranks 39 with 77. AST SpaceMobile is ahead on production, technology and firepower. SES is ahead on commercials. Level on deployment, progress, positioning and leverage. AST SpaceMobile is based in Midland, United States, SES in Betzdorf, Luxembourg. AST SpaceMobile: Public, founded 2017. SES: Established. AST SpaceMobile is named in 58 signals and SES in 75.

AST SpaceMobile →

Midland, Texas, United States · Space · Satellites & spacecraft / Communications constellations · Public · founded 2017 · ast-science.com

AST SpaceMobile sells direct-to-mobile satellite communications through the BlueBird network to telecom partners and their subscribers.

Space 100 · rank 11 · score 85

Scores, Space (of 10)

Deployment9
Production8
Commercials6
Progress9
Technology8
Positioning8
Firepower10
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

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).

Latest signals

  • AST SpaceMobile investors face a November 13, 2026 deadline to seek lead-plaintiff status in a proposed securities class action.PR Newswire, all releases
  • AST SpaceMobile secured Brazilian regulatory approval for 30 MHz of S-band spectrum.eeNews Europe
  • AST SpaceMobile signed agreements with four regional Brazilian operators.StockTitan

58 signals name AST SpaceMobile.

Facts, with sources

  • Commercial service delayed due to the Blue Origin New Glenn explosionSpaceNews
  • Commercial service delay caused by the Blue Origin New Glenn explosionSpaceNews
  • Commercial service delayed to the first half of 2027SpaceNews

172 facts on file.

SES →

Betzdorf, Luxembourg · Space · Satellites & spacecraft / Communications constellations · Established · ses.com

SES operates GEO and MEO satellite networks, including O3b mPOWER, and sells connectivity to broadband, direct-to-device, maritime, government, defense and media customers.

Space 100 · rank 39 · score 77

Scores, Space (of 10)

Deployment9
Production6
Commercials8
Progress9
Technology6
Positioning8
Firepower8
Leverage8

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

SES is a Luxembourg multi-orbit satellite operator (>EUR 3.5B class after completing its Intelsat acquisition in 2025) running a GEO fleet plus the O3b mPOWER MEO constellation, the consolidation move of the operator sector with Intelsat integration underway. K2 Space is building an initial 30-satellite MEO network for it, and it partners with Eutelsat OneWeb on airline multi-orbit deals. Current figures are verified-light this pass (a dedicated results pass owed).

Latest signals

  • SES and CANAL+ extended their strategic partnership through 2040.Satellite Evolution
  • ESA is developing the €15.6 billion Iris2 secure connectivity constellation with Aerospacelab and SES.Space Intel Report
  • SES selected Lyntris as payload integrator for its PTS-G satellite work.Via Satellite

75 signals name SES.

Facts, with sources

  • Astrium Mobile Neastar-1 L-band direct-to-device satellite mission planned for completionSpaceNews
  • Sixth HummingSat order for the Intelsat 45 missionSpaceNews
  • Intelsat-45 Ku-band FSS and BSS satellite mission planned for completionSpaceNews

110 facts on file.

More comparisons

Questions this page answers

AST SpaceMobile or SES: which is ahead in space?

AST SpaceMobile ranks 11 on the Space 100 with a score of 85; SES ranks 39 with 77. AST SpaceMobile is ahead on production, technology and firepower. SES is ahead on commercials. Level on deployment, progress, positioning and leverage. AST SpaceMobile is based in Midland, United States, SES in Betzdorf, Luxembourg. AST SpaceMobile: Public, founded 2017. SES: Established. AST SpaceMobile is named in 58 signals and SES in 75.

How do AST SpaceMobile and SES compare?

AST SpaceMobile ranks 11 on the Space 100 with a score of 85; SES ranks 39 with 77. AST SpaceMobile is ahead on production, technology and firepower. SES is ahead on commercials. Level on deployment, progress, positioning and leverage. AST SpaceMobile is based in Midland, United States, SES in Betzdorf, Luxembourg. AST SpaceMobile: Public, founded 2017. SES: Established. AST SpaceMobile is named in 58 signals and SES in 75. Both company files carry the scores on eight measures, the facts with sources and the latest signals.

Every comparison here comes from the same files members use every day.

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