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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →TELUS and AST SpaceMobile have completed their first integration test linking TELUS’s wireless network with AST SpaceMobile’s satellite network, the companies announced October 5, 2026. The milestone moves their planned direct-to-device (D2D) service toward customer availability, which TELUS expects within the next year. It is not a commercial launch announcement, and the release does not publish detailed end-to-end test results.
What the companies tested
TELUS Communications Inc. says the test successfully linked its terrestrial wireless network with AST SpaceMobile’s space-based network. The planned service is intended to let eligible smartphones connect to broadband data, voice calls, and text messaging beyond the reach of traditional cell towers. The announcement does not say where the test took place or identify the handset used.
The release also does not report measured data speeds, call quality, message-delivery rates, or other test conditions. It therefore establishes an integration milestone, but not how the service performed in a particular location or under real-world conditions. TELUS’s October 5 announcement characterizes the event as the first integration test between the networks.
When customers might get the service
TELUS says it expects customer availability within the next year. That is a target expressed in the October 5, 2026 announcement, not a firm launch date or guarantee.
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The companies announced their commercial agreement on March 3, 2026. At that time, TELUS described plans to invest in ground-based satellite infrastructure and become an equity shareholder in AST SpaceMobile, with service planned for remote Canadian locations in late 2026. The newer announcement uses the broader “within the next year” timing, so a specific launch date should not be assumed. TELUS’s March agreement announcement outlines the earlier plan.
What is known about compatible phones and use
The companies say the intended service will work on eligible smartphones without special equipment. They have not published a compatible-phone list or explained which TELUS customers, plans, or account conditions will qualify. “Eligible” matters: the announcement does not establish that every smartphone or every TELUS subscriber will be able to use the service.
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TELUS presents satellite connectivity as a complement to its cellular network for places without traditional cell infrastructure. It points to travel, hiking, camping, remote work, and additional access to emergency services as potential uses. Those are intended use cases, not a guarantee of coverage or emergency-service performance throughout Canada.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unannounced
- Where the integration test took place and which phone models were used.
- Measured speeds, call quality, text reliability, and other technical results.
- The service’s coverage footprint and any operating limitations.
- Compatible devices, customer eligibility, plan inclusion, and pricing.
- A firm customer launch date and detailed emergency-service terms.
Until TELUS or AST SpaceMobile publishes those details, the announcement supports a conclusion about progress toward a service—not a judgment about its coverage, performance, cost, or suitability for a particular customer.
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