Verizon signs deal with AST SpaceMobile to provide cellular service from space. AST shares jump

AST SpaceMobile announced on Wednesday an agreement with Verizon provide cellular service from space starting next year.

This agreement aims to bring a direct connection to the service through space to cell phone users “when needed” on Verizon plans., according to AST. This is an expansion of the partnership between the two companies announced last year.

AST shares were up about 12% as of midday Wednesday. The volatile space stock had surged more than 250% in 2025 before the deal was announced.

Verizon shares fell.

“Through our definitive commercial agreement with Verizon, we are working to provide space-based broadband cellular coverage from space across the continental United States,” said Abel Avellan, founder and CEO of AST, in a press release.

Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

Avellan said the deal would expand Verizon’s premium 850 MHz low-band spectrum into areas of the United States that could benefit from increased coverage from AST’s spatial broadband offering.

AST said the deal comes after proving its capabilities through recent tests of its space network. The company bills itself as creating the “first and only” global cellular network that operates in space directly through off-the-shelf devices that can be used in commercial and government settings.