TELUS and AST SpaceMobile partner to bring space-based cellular broadband connectivity to every corner of Canada

Executive Summary

• TELUS Corporation and AST SpaceMobile have signed a commercial agreement to deliver space‑based cellular broadband service across Canada, targeting remote and underserved areas.
• As part of the deal, TELUS will invest in ground‑based satellite infrastructure and acquire an equity stake in AST SpaceMobile, aligning the two companies long‑term.
• Service rollout is planned for late 2026, enabling TELUS customers to use standard smartphones for voice, text and data via a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation.

Key Details

• Partnership Scope: Commercial agreement to provide satellite‑powered cellular broadband coverage throughout Canada, especially in locations lacking traditional network infrastructure.
• Investment Component: TELUS will fund ground‑based satellite infrastructure and become an equity shareholder of AST SpaceMobile (specific amount and percentage not disclosed).
• Technology: Utilizes AST SpaceMobile’s LEO satellite constellation equipped with the largest commercial phased‑array antennas, integrated with TELUS’s existing wireless network.
• Service Offering: Standard smartphone voice calls, SMS, and data services without special equipment; compatible with 4G/5G standards.
• Timeline: Service availability targeted for late 2026.
• Strategic Rationale (TELUS): Enhances TELUS’s commitment to universal connectivity, expands coverage to remote communities, and supports its broader 5G+ network strategy.
• Strategic Rationale (AST SpaceMobile): Gains a major Canadian telecom partner, accelerates market penetration, and secures capital for satellite infrastructure development.

Notable Quotes

• “By combining TELUS' award‑winning wireless network and AST SpaceMobile's innovative satellite technology, we're eliminating connectivity gaps across Canada…” – Nazim Benhadid, Chief Technology Officer, TELUS Networks.
• “Canada's vast geography, remote industries and dispersed communities make universal connectivity both a challenge and a necessity...” – Chris Ivory, Chief Commercial Officer, AST SpaceMobile.