AT&T and AST SpaceMobile have been given the go-ahead from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to carry out direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity trials with emergency services later this year.

In an announcement this week, AT&T said it will work with AST SpaceMobile to begin testing direct-to-cellular satellite connectivity on public safety’s Band 14 spectrum for FirstNet, AT&T’s first responder network.

FirstNet operates a network for first responders that is supported by AT&T.

The first responder network already uses satellite technology for its deployable assets, such as SatCOLTs — satellite cell on light trucks, which are vehicles equipped with mobile cell sites that connect via satellite when networks go down during natural disasters.

AT&T will test direct-to-cellular connectivity via AST’s BlueBird satellites orbiting Earth. AST’s BlueBird satellites launched in September.

It comes just a couple of months after AT&T carried out direct-to-device (D2D) video calls with AST SpaceMobile.

“Satellite connectivity on FirstNet is being built with public safety’s unique needs in mind,” said Matt Walsh, AVP – FirstNet and NextGen 9-1-1 Products, AT&T. “First responders need more than the minimum, and we are excited to continue building out our comprehensive network to serve the public safety community.”

Founded in 2017, AST’s first test satellite, Bluewalker 1, was launched in 2019; Bluewalker 2 was canceled. Its latest test satellite, Bluewalker 3, launched in 2022.

AST was planning a constellation of almost 170 satellites; the first 20 were originally due to enter operation by 2023, with another 90 deployed through 2024. According to more recent press releases, it seems to have revised its constellation plans down to 100.

Verizon and AT&T, along with Vodafone, are all investors in AST SpaceMobile, rivaling Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink.

“Alongside integration efforts with partner networks, we are installing five gateways in the United States, and we are now accelerating our path to commercial activity, starting with testing service with off-the-shelf cellular handsets on AT&T and Verizon networks,” said Chris Ivory, chief commercial officer of AST SpaceMobile.

During the recent direct-to-device video calls, AST received special temporary authority from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to test its satellite broadband network in the US. The company also carried out separate calls with Verizon.

To carry out the trial video calls, AST used AT&T and Verizon’s 850MHz spectrum, which is compatible with standard smartphones.