Feb. 4 at 2:18 AM
$ASTS $RKLB $TSLA $GOOG
Why Starlink Direct-to-Cell still struggles to challenge AST SpaceMobile
• Spectrum is the bottleneck — licensed cellular spectrum via MNOs, country by country
• Regulatory + interference limits — SCS rules cap power and performance
• Physics favors ASTS — handset uplink power demands very large antennas and tight beams
• Capacity constraints — Starlink DTC skews toward messaging, not broadband
• Complex cellular integration — satellites must function as roaming cell towers
The key point:
MNOs don’t want to be replaced. With AST SpaceMobile, carriers keep the subscriber, billing, ARPU, and control — with zero behavior change.
Bottom line:
MNOs adopt AST SpaceMobile because it protects their business model.
They resist Starlink because it eventually replaces it. ASTS adoption is easy, fast, and politically aligned — and why Starlink DTC faces friction that has nothing to do with technology.
