AST SpaceMobile and 430-440MHz
In 2025, the prospect of a USA constellation of 248 large commercial satellites that would use 430-440MHz for wideband control and telemetry, prompted an unprecedented international response from the amateur community:-
- FCC: Public Notice re AST Application – 20-June-2025
- RSGB: Response & Comments – 21-Jul-2025
- IARU: Statement and Position – 18-Jul-2025
- ARRL: News item and Initial Response – 22-Jul-2025
The FCC Electronic Comment Filing System received a total of over 2500 responses, including from over a dozen IARU Member Societies, as well as Amsat groups, ARISS etc
Note: The primary deadline for comments was 21-July-2025, with follow-on responses to comments by 5-Aug-2025, which included:
- ARRL: Reply Comments
- AST: Consolidated Response
- IARU: Update – 9-Sep-2025
The initial scenario was that only a handful of early satellites would use 430-440MHz, which would need to be under ITU-R Article 4.4 as there is no allocation for such use.
Update – April-2026
- FCC Authorisation – DA 26-391 (inc extending 430MHz to all 248 satellites)
- IARU Statement – including comments on ITU-R Article-4.4
- RSGB News Item
- ARRL News item
- FCC Press Release
Category: Spectrum Forum Papers and Consultations
