DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist
D A ILY INNOVATION BRIEF By Journalists Edward Kane & Marya nne Kane AT THE FOREFRONT OF WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY Source: AST SpaceMobile Texas-based startup AST SpaceMobile has secured major strategic investment money from Google, AT&T AND Vodaphone to build a space-based cellular network. Here's what we know: This is the world's first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible by smart phone It has the potential to give connectivity to 5.5 billion devices when they are out of coverage areas $206.5 million invested by Google, AT&T and Vodaphone to develop it AST SpaceMobile operates the world's largest commercial communications array in low-Earth orbit, the BlueWalker 3 Satellite AST claims to be at the forefront of wireless innovation in the emerging space-based cellular direct-to-device market Their goal: close the global connectivity gap by bringing 5G bro