Refiles to remove extraneous words in 4th bullet
** Shares of satellite communications firm AST SpaceMobile ASTS.O up 13.7% at $20.71 on Fri after co said Federal Communications Commission authorized it to test service in the U.S. via its partnerships with AT&T T.N and Verizon VZ.N
** Midland, Texas co l ate Thurs said FCC granted it a Special Temporary Authority, adding that the approval enables its five commercial BlueBird satellites to provide voice, data and video applications on both firms' premium low-band wireless spectrum without special software or devices or updates
** "....we are now accelerating our path to commercial activity, starting with testing service with off-the-shelf cellular handsets on AT&T and Verizon networks" - Chief Commercial Officer Chris Ivory
** In Nov, Jeff Bezos' rocket company Blue Origin signed multi-launch deal with ASTS to deploy the firm's direct-to-cellular satellites
** With move on the session, ASTS shares down ~2% YTD. Stock closed at $2.87 a year ago
** All 5 analysts covering ASTS rate stock "buy" with median PT of $36, per LSEG data
(Lance Tupper is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)
((lance.tupper@tr.com 1-646-279-6380))
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