$ASTS @AST_SpaceMobile @FCC approvals. Let’s have a closer look. 1/n
C🅰️tSE@CatSE___ApeX___
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Jan 04, 2025
~3 min read
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$ASTS @AST_SpaceMobile @FCC approvals.
Let’s have a closer look.
1/n
Let’s have a closer look.
1/n
Kevin Chen@defiantclient
$ASTS: Breaking -- Vodafone Turkey STA is now granted with a minor condition from the NTIA regarding how transmissions are handled to avoid exceeding the specified power density threshold.
apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.htm…
apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.htm…
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Filed 11/25 and 12/05 respectively and granted today. 01/03.
I get 38 and 29 days.
This is faster than I expected for these approvals to test with the Worlds no 1 MNO in UK and Turkey.
Vodafone is the 6th largest MNO by revenue in the world.
Pending AT&T and VZN being 1&2.
I get 38 and 29 days.
This is faster than I expected for these approvals to test with the Worlds no 1 MNO in UK and Turkey.
Vodafone is the 6th largest MNO by revenue in the world.
Pending AT&T and VZN being 1&2.
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These two were filed after AT&T and Vzn applications. The US applications said they’d be amended w spectrum consent letters later.
And the difference with the Vodafone dockets is just that. Voda is complete w consent letters.
/3
And the difference with the Vodafone dockets is just that. Voda is complete w consent letters.
/3
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Conclusion: it’s in the hands of AT&T, Vzn and AST to also get US approvals, by posting those consent letters also to US dockets.
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/4
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Let’s look at the grant.
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Here AST is granted use of 4,500 MHz bandwidth Q/V feeder link spectrum.
It is a huge swath.
And that spectrum has a lot of value.
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It is a huge swath.
And that spectrum has a lot of value.
/6
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Then these Vodafone service-links granted.
Full end-2-end grant.
Testing can commence.
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Full end-2-end grant.
Testing can commence.
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Third page gets strange as it has special conditions which seems to be copy-paste from an non associated BlueWalker 3 grant. Requesting coordination w. First Net.
Mentioning BlueWalker 3.
Which obviously is not needed / misplaced here.
Some clerk made mistake.
/8
Mentioning BlueWalker 3.
Which obviously is not needed / misplaced here.
Some clerk made mistake.
/8
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There are also NTIA conditions to the two STAs
Here is the one for 🇬🇧 UK
PFD limits and limitations for a sliver of the feeder links.
The latter is at angles greater than 65 degrees from Nadir.
Nadir is the opposite of Apex in my handle.
Nadir is boresight straight down.
/10
Here is the one for 🇬🇧 UK
PFD limits and limitations for a sliver of the feeder links.
The latter is at angles greater than 65 degrees from Nadir.
Nadir is the opposite of Apex in my handle.
Nadir is boresight straight down.
/10
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Using 65 off-nadir angle, some trigonometry we can calculate that the limits imposed on part of the AST servicelink spectrum is for elevation angles lower than 25 degrees above Horizon💜.
This will in no way limit the tests.
Nor will PFD limits for handset service links.
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This will in no way limit the tests.
Nor will PFD limits for handset service links.
/11
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Shifting to the Turkey test grant 🇹🇷
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Much less Q/V bandwidth.
But they get all they asked for.
As this is just for testing at one site they don’t really need all that huge feeder badwidth they got in the UK for any commercial application.
10 MHz would do just fine.
They get 100MHz which they asked for 👇
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But they get all they asked for.
As this is just for testing at one site they don’t really need all that huge feeder badwidth they got in the UK for any commercial application.
10 MHz would do just fine.
They get 100MHz which they asked for 👇
/13
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Oh nicee. 😻
First ever approval of a 10MHz channel to AST.
And the Turkey testing is at fairly high power and a narrow highly focused cell.
Means high gain / high modulation and high bandwidth.
Can’t wait to get test results from this one.
40+ mbps here we come.
/14
First ever approval of a 10MHz channel to AST.
And the Turkey testing is at fairly high power and a narrow highly focused cell.
Means high gain / high modulation and high bandwidth.
Can’t wait to get test results from this one.
40+ mbps here we come.
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We see Q/V uplink also granted.
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Same ”feederlink when just above the horizon limitations” apply in Turkey.
And again it will not affect the tests in any way bc the gateway (which is in Istanbul) will be within a more narrow fov when doing the tests.
/16
And again it will not affect the tests in any way bc the gateway (which is in Istanbul) will be within a more narrow fov when doing the tests.
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Conclusion:
This is _very_ good news!
Shattering a lot of bear-FUD. 😼
Regulatory risks are the main risks for emerging SatCom companies and FCC approving testing STAs this fast is very promising.
Those risks are becoming milestones.
No longer ⁉️
Now they’re ✅✅
17/17
This is _very_ good news!
Shattering a lot of bear-FUD. 😼
Regulatory risks are the main risks for emerging SatCom companies and FCC approving testing STAs this fast is very promising.
Those risks are becoming milestones.
No longer ⁉️
Now they’re ✅✅
17/17
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Some more details on the Turkey application ERP power levels.
C🅰️tSE@CatSE___ApeX___
@TheodorusAtheos Sometimes the application itself is updated during the process of granting it.
There is a current and an initial application to view.
The grant is consistent with current application but differs a bit from initial.
TL/DR I think AST got granted what they needed / asked.
There is a current and an initial application to view.
The grant is consistent with current application but differs a bit from initial.
TL/DR I think AST got granted what they needed / asked.
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Re: Q/V ERP
Feeder bandwidth asked and granted in Turkey is much more narrow (100 MHz) than UK (4,500 MHz)
But _channel_ asked/granted is wider (100MHz) in Turkey resulting in 0.2W power which is 10x UK (10MHz) and 0.02W.
Need wider feeder in 🇹🇷bc service links are wider.
Feeder bandwidth asked and granted in Turkey is much more narrow (100 MHz) than UK (4,500 MHz)
But _channel_ asked/granted is wider (100MHz) in Turkey resulting in 0.2W power which is 10x UK (10MHz) and 0.02W.
Need wider feeder in 🇹🇷bc service links are wider.
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Feederlink sites in UK and Turkey.
And a sketch to show how they use both more fronthaul and more backhaul in Turkey compared to UK.
Most likely because cellular test spectrum is wider in Turkey.
Q/V links also contains TT&C not just phone traffic, btw.
And a sketch to show how they use both more fronthaul and more backhaul in Turkey compared to UK.
Most likely because cellular test spectrum is wider in Turkey.
Q/V links also contains TT&C not just phone traffic, btw.