AST SpaceMobile Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS) stock is falling on Friday, primarily because of intensifying competition from SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile. Nasdaq futures are up 0.40% while S&P 500 futures have gained 0.52%.
SpaceX agreed to acquire up to 14 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum in the 800 MHz band from Grain Management, subject to regulatory approval.
Elon Musk described the deal as an “earthquake.” SpaceX’s Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said the company plans to target existing wireless carrier customers.
The low-band spectrum could help Starlink Mobile improve connectivity and compete directly with traditional mobile carriers and satellite-to-phone providers.
AST SpaceMobile relies on partnerships with wireless carriers to deliver satellite connectivity to ordinary smartphones.
Investors weigh the potential for SpaceX’s expanding satellite network and spectrum holdings to put pressure on AST SpaceMobile’s coverage, service economics and ability to differentiate its offering.
Carrier Venture And Broader Market Factors
Shares of major U.S. wireless carriers — Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS) — are also trading lower in premarket trading on Friday following SpaceX’s disclosure.
The announcement follows the FCC’s earlier approval of SpaceX’s direct-to-device satellite constellation and a shared venture announced by AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Communications on Oct. 2.
Technical Analysis
From a longer-term trend perspective, ASTS is still in a clear downtrend: it’s trading 9% below its 20-day SMA ($60.07) and 13.2% below its 50-day SMA ($63.00), with even more distance to the 100-day ($72.85) and 200-day ($80.93). The 20-day SMA sitting below the 50-day SMA keeps the near-term structure bearish, and the death cross that formed in July (50-day below 200-day) reinforces that the bigger-picture trend remains pressured.
Key levels are tight enough to matter for swing traders watching for either a breakdown or a base.
- Key Resistance: $65.50 — a nearby ceiling near the stock’s 50-day area where rebounds can stall
- Key Support: $53 — a close-by floor near the current zone where buyers previously stepped in
ASTS Price Action: AST SpaceMobile shares were down 12.77% at $49.66 at the time of publication on Friday. The stock is trading near its 52-week low of $49.31, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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