Riyadh, Oct 29 (Reuters) — U.S.-based satellite communications company AST SpaceMobile has signed a 10-year commercial agreement with Saudi Arabia’s stc Group to deliver direct-to-cell satellite connectivity across the Kingdom and parts of the Middle East and Africa.
Under the deal, stc Group will make a prepayment of $175 million to AST SpaceMobile and collaborate on the development of three satellite ground gateways within Saudi Arabia. A Network Operations Center (NOC) will also be established in Riyadh, aimed at managing and expanding the new satellite services.
The agreement is expected to boost Saudi Arabia’s digital infrastructure, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas, supporting the country’s Vision 2030 initiative to lead in technological innovation and connectivity expansion.
Commercial services under this partnership are planned to launch by late 2026, pending regulatory approvals.