PremiumChris KeallTechnology Editor/Senior Business Writer·NZ Herald·22 Jul, 2026 07:00 PM10 mins to read‌AST SpaceMobile's "BlueBird" satellites are designed for a satellite-to-mobile signal that can penetrate indoors. Render / AST

Elon Musk wants Starlink to expand to a network of one million satellites – enough to cover urban areas – and launch its own mobile phone service and handset. Newcomer AST SpaceMobile will offer a satellite-to-mobile service that can penetrate indoors and at superfast speeds. Will land-lubbing telcos go the