AST SpaceMobile stocks (ASTS) declined 33% this month, marking the worst monthly performance in over two years, as investors weigh recent earnings commentary from T-Mobile and Nokia. T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan stated that satellite connectivity will become 'table stakes' for cellular service, while satellite traffic currently represents just 0.0003% of T-Mobile's network usage. The developments come as T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon announced a direct-to-device joint venture in May, and Nokia outlined an AI-RAN roadmap targeting pilot deployments by end-2026 and commercial availability in 2027.
T-Mobile CEO Calls Satellite Connectivity Future Industry Standard
T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan said direct-to-cell remains a complement to terrestrial networks. During T-Mobile's busiest summer months, satellites accounted for just 0.0003% of total network usage. "It's a really small percentage of the usage on our network," Gopalan said. He added that satellites will become essential over time: "For us, it's clear that with time, this is no longer going to be a differentiation. It's going to be table stakes as a complementary service to have satellite along with your cellular service."
Gopalan discussed the direct-to-device venture announced by T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon in May. The carrier-led platform will pool spectrum and source satellite capacity with the goal of making service agnostic to both provider and device. "That's what drove the JV," Gopalan said, adding that carriers could still strike separate deals, though T-Mobile expects most capacity to come through the venture.
T-Mobile's current direct-to-cell service is provided through SpaceX's Starlink. The carrier has not announced a partnership with AST. The JV's flexible structure suggests carriers may use multiple satellite providers, creating a potential opening for AST through its existing relationships with AT&T and Verizon.
Nokia Outlines AI-RAN Platform Timeline With 2026 Pilots
Nokia supplies AirScale Single RAN equipment for AST's space-based network under a five-year agreement announced in 2022. AST's gateways connect with Nokia eNodeBs and carrier cores through standard 3GPP protocols, allowing its satellites to function as an extension of existing mobile infrastructure across 4G, 5G and, eventually, 6G.
Nokia CEO Justin Hotard said the company's AI-RAN platform marks "a fundamental shift from a hardware-defined radio network to software-defined platforms." "This fundamentally changes the economics of radio networks," he said.
Nokia expects pilot deployments by the end of 2026, commercial availability in 2027 and more than 100% spectral-efficiency gains by 2028. The platform is open, programmable and O-RAN compliant, with a software upgrade path from 5G to 6G. "A hardware deployment with 100% spectral efficiency improvement, I think the math there speaks for itself," Hotard said.
Retail Sentiment Turns Bearish on Stocktwits Platform
On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for ASTS slipped to 'bearish' from 'neutral' levels a day ago amid an 18% rise in 24-hour message volume.
One user said, "$ASTS This stock is an unbelievable bargain at these prices. Just need some of these lingering catalysts to kick in at some point."
Another user said, "$ASTS We haven't had two green days in a row since June. RSI is over sold and one of the most shorted stocks on the market... This is starting to set up for a squeeze."
ASTS stock has climbed 0.4% over the past year.
FAQ
What is ASTS stock's performance this month?
ASTS stock declined 33% this month, marking its worst monthly performance in over two years.
What did T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon announce in May?
The three carriers announced a direct-to-device joint venture in May that will pool spectrum and source satellite capacity to make service agnostic to both provider and device.
When does Nokia expect its AI-RAN platform to be commercially available?
Nokia expects pilot deployments by the end of 2026, commercial availability in 2027, and more than 100% spectral-efficiency gains by 2028.
