AST SpaceMobile's Abel Avellan Appointed Commissioner to the ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ("AST SpaceMobile") (NASDAQ:ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, today announced the appointment of its Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Abel Avellan, as a Commissioner to the ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. AST SpaceMobile believes this appointment underscores the natural alignment between the company's mission to connect the unconnected by bringing broadband to the billions worldwide and the Broadband Commission's efforts to promote universal connectivity as a cornerstone of a sustainable and inclusive future.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221929583/en/

Abel Avellan (Photo: Business Wire)

The synergy between AST SpaceMobile's mission and the ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission's goal to ensure universal connectivity highlights the essential role of digital inclusion in achieving a sustainable and inclusive future. The Company believes Mr. Avellan's selection as a Commissioner showcases the potential role that space-based cellular broadband could play in realizing the Commission's vision to achieve global broadband access by the year 2030.

Under Avellan's leadership, AST SpaceMobile has been at the forefront of technological innovation in developing the groundbreaking space-based cellular broadband network that is intended to offer direct broadband access to everyday smartphones.

"Being appointed to the ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission is a privilege and an honor. I strongly believe in the transformative power of connectivity and I look forward to helping advance the Commission's efforts to achieving universal broadband access for all, ensuring that connectivity is not just a privilege for some, but a right for all," said Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, AST SpaceMobile.

The ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development's mission for 2030 is centered on leveraging broadband technology to catalyze global progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. This mission is underpinned by a commitment to ensuring universal broadband connectivity, which is seen as a fundamental driver of socio-economic development, innovation, and access to essential services.

AST SpaceMobile has more than 3,100 patent and patent-pending claims for its technology and operates state-of-the-art, vertically integrated manufacturing and testing facilities in Midland, Texas, which collectively span 185,000 square feet.

The company also has agreements and understandings with more than 40 mobile network operators globally, which have over 2 billion existing subscribers total, including Vodafone Group, Rakuten Mobile, AT&T, Bell Canada, Orange, Telefonica, TIM, Saudi Telecom Company, Zain KSA, Etisalat, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Telkomsel, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Millicom, Smartfren, Telecom Argentina, Telstra, Africell, Liberty Latin America and others. AT&T, Vodafone, Google, Rakuten, American Tower and Bell Canada are also existing investors in AST SpaceMobile.

About AST SpaceMobile 

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today's five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. For more information, follow AST SpaceMobile on YouTube , X (Formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn and Facebook . Watch this video for an overview of the SpaceMobile mission.

Forward-Looking Statements 

This communication contains "forward-looking statements" that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of AST SpaceMobile to differ materially from those expected and projected. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "may," "will," "would," "potential," "projects," "predicts," "continue," or "should," or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology.

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside AST SpaceMobile's control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) expectations regarding AST SpaceMobile's strategies and future financial performance, including AST's future business plans or objectives, expected functionality of the SpaceMobile Service, anticipated timing of the launch of the Block 1 Bluebird satellites, anticipated demand and acceptance of mobile satellite services, prospective performance and commercial opportunities and competitors, the timing of obtaining regulatory approvals, ability to finance its research and development activities, commercial partnership acquisition and retention, products and services, pricing, marketing plans, operating expenses, market trends, revenues, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and AST's ability to invest in growth initiatives; (ii) the negotiation of definitive agreements with mobile network operators relating to the SpaceMobile service that would supersede preliminary agreements and memoranda of understanding and the ability to enter into commercial agreements with other parties or government entities; (iii) the ability of AST SpaceMobile to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees and AST SpaceMobile's responses to actions of its competitors and its ability to effectively compete; (iv) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (v) the possibility that AST SpaceMobile may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (vi) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against AST SpaceMobile; and (vii) other risks and uncertainties indicated in the Company's filings with the SEC, including those in the Risk Factors section of AST SpaceMobile's Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023.

AST SpaceMobile cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. AST SpaceMobile cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors incorporated by reference into AST SpaceMobile's Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023. AST SpaceMobile's securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, AST SpaceMobile disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221929583/en/