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AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) shares rocketed 12.5% in pre-market trading today after the company announced a game-changing, decade-long partnership with Vodafone Group Plc (NASDAQ:VOD). This deal enables Vodafone to leverage AST SpaceMobile's space-based broadband network, bringing high-speed cellular connectivity to regions where it's never been possible beforeno fancy satellite phones required. With Vodafone placing its first order for AST's advanced BlueBird gateway, the company is cementing its leadership in satellite-based telecommunications, delivering peak speeds up to 120 Mbps and opening up untapped markets globally.
Previously, space stocks have been gaining momentum as Jared Isaacman, a billionaire tech pioneer and spaceflight veteran, has been tapped to lead NASA under the Trump administration. Isaacman's vision for a thriving space economy could turbocharge the commercial space sector, creating a rising tide for companies like AST SpaceMobile. And while SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, remains a competitor in satellite communications, Isaacman's push for expanding private-public partnerships at NASA might benefit all early movers in the race to dominate space-based connectivity.
For AST investors, the stars are aligningliterally and figuratively. This partnership with Vodafone isn't just about groundbreaking tech; it's about unlocking massive revenue streams by bridging the connectivity gap for billions. Coupled with a promising regulatory tailwind from NASA's new leadership, AST SpaceMobile is looking less like a speculative play and more like a leader in the making. Keep an eye on this oneit's clear the market already is.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.