stc group shoots for orbit with AST deal
Saudi Arabian telecom company STC Group has partnered with American satellite firm AST SpaceMobile to bring wireless coverage to remote areas through a space-based network. The companies signed the deal on Tuesday at a Riyadh investment conference.
The service will use low Earth orbit satellites to connect standard mobile phones in places where ground networks cannot reach. Customers in Saudi Arabia and parts of the Middle East and Africa will access the technology through their regular devices without special equipment.
STC plans to launch the service in late 2026, subject to meeting technical and regulatory requirements. The company will operate as the primary provider in Saudi Arabia and offer wholesale access to other carriers.
The agreement makes STC among the first regional telecoms to offer direct satellite connectivity to mobile phones. Both firms say the partnership will expand digital access across underserved communities in the Kingdom and neighboring markets.
