Ligado Wants NOAA Spectrum for Direct-to-Device Satellite Service
Aviation groups and others told Congress they feared interference from Ligado’s plans.
WASHINGTON, May 4, 2026 – The government is a ways away from auctioning the first slice of federal spectrum identified for commercial use, but companies already have ideas for how to use it.
Representatives from satellite company Ligado, including CEO Doug Smith, met with Federal Communications Commission staff last week to let them know the company was interested in 1675-1680 MegaHertz (MHz) spectrum.
Ligado wants to use the airwaves for direct-to-device satellite service through a partnership it’s pursuing with AST SpaceMobile. AST would have access to 45 megahertz of Ligado’s L-band spectrum for its direct-to-device services under the deal, which is part of Ligado’s bankruptcy proceeding and which the FCC has not yet approved.
