AST SpaceMobile Slides After SpaceX Secures Low-Band Spectrum
SpaceX agreed to acquire Grain Management's nationwide low-band spectrum portfolio, removing a potential low-band path for AST SpaceMobile. AST SpaceMobile shares fell about 6%, while Rocket Lab and Planet Labs also declined, though a space-focused ETF edged higher. The selloff appeared concentrated in direct-to-device spectrum exposure rather than the broader space sector.
SpaceX’s deal with Grain Management would hand it a nationwide low-band portfolio, pending regulatory clearance; financial terms were not disclosed. AST SpaceMobile had sought those frequencies, so that avenue is now closed, though its current carrier agreements remain in place. Its mid-band access through Ligado Networks in the U.S. and Canada therefore matters more, and analyst Roger Entner suggested Ligado could be next.
Rocket Lab and Planet Labs do not depend on spectrum for direct phone-to-satellite links: one provides launch and spacecraft hardware, the other Earth-imaging services. Their smaller declines, alongside a slight gain in the Procure Space ETF, suggest the selling focused on AST SpaceMobile’s spectrum position rather than the wider space group.
If SpaceX controls more low-band airwaves, future direct-to-phone service may depend on fewer providers, potentially affecting rural, remote, or indoor users who could benefit from satellite coverage. Carriers and satellite firms may face different bargaining dynamics, while investors in spectrum-focused space stocks could see sharper swings. Regulatory review may shape availability, pricing, and competition, though outcomes remain uncertain.