AST SpaceMobile’s prototype FM1 satellite which was supposed to launch this month has reportedly been delayed for the second time, putting its plan to better compete against Starlink on hold.

CEO Abel Avellan first stated on AST SpaceMobile’s Q2 earnings call in May it planned to launch its first Block2 Bluebird known as FM1 in July, but the launch fell through.

It then submitted a filing with the US Federal Communications Commission on 1 July, seeking permission to transport the satellite to India for a launch in August using an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rocket.

After citing development issues, The Hindu newspaper reported the FM1 will arrive in India in September. ISRO chair V. Narayanan stated twice on a recent YouTube video the Block2 Bluebird will launch three to four months after its arrival.

The Block2 Bluebird low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, which has ten-times the capacity of its current first-generation birds, is key for AST SpaceMobile’s plan to deliver ubiquitous voice, video and data services to smartphones in dead zones through partnerships with mobile operators including AT&T and Verizon.

AST SpaceMobile told the FCC it planned to launch up to 20 of the second-generation birds through the end of this year with a goal of offering commercial services in early 2026.

The Block2 Bluebirds feature up to 2,400 square foot communications arrays with beams designed to support a capacity of 40MHz, enabling peak data transmission rates of 120Mb/s.

The satellite operator previously stated it plans to build 40 second-generation satellites this year with a long-term goal of 90 to enable global service.

T-Mobile US’ direct-to-device (D2D) satellite service provisioned by Starlink birds made its nationwide debut on 24 July after six months of beta testing.

AST SpaceMobile used SpaceX to launch its first five birds in 2024, but later inked a multi-year agreement with Blue Origin to use its New Glenn rocket.

AST SpaceMobile did not respond to questions from Mobile World Live on the launch schedule for FM1 going forward. It is hosting an earnings call on 11 August.