AST SpaceMobile has agreed to buy global S-band spectrum priority rights for $64.5 million, securing access to as much as 60 MHz of mid-band spectrum for use by its planned low-Earth-orbit satellite network. The company said the purchase underpins its goal of delivering peak downlink speeds of up to 120 Mbps directly to conventional mobile phones. The spectrum deal comes as the Indian Space Research Organisation has reportedly pushed back the launch of AST SpaceMobile’s second-generation BlueBird prototype, known as FM1, by three to four months. The slip could postpone the flight to late in the fourth quarter, adding uncertainty to the company’s testing schedule. AST SpaceMobile has told U.S. regulators it intends to place as many as 20 satellites, including FM1, into orbit by the end of the year and aims to start commercial service in early 2026, eventually needing 45 to 60 spacecraft for continuous U.S. coverage. Any further delay would widen the lead already held by SpaceX, which is rolling out cellular Starlink connectivity through partner T-Mobile.