AST SpaceMobile claims it is building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible by standard smartphones.
They plan to deliver a global cellular network from space. In a briefing early last year, the company told investors that its network would eventually consist of 168 satellites.
The key differentiator for AST SpaceMobile currently is that the company has facilitated a low-earth satellite connection without needing special software, ground terminals or hardware.
What’s important with this approach is that the change is on the satellite side so that ordinary phones could be used. The Qualcomm chip approach required extra chips in the phone to communicate via the Inmarsat and other satellite networks, which are pretty costly to use.
I’d imagine that access would be like roaming another network, with that network’s cellular rates applying when it is used.
See https://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/489147-first-two-way-cellphone-call-made-via-satellite.html