Early Life
Abel Avellan was born in Venezuela and trained as an engineer at Simón Bolívar University. After college, he began his career working for the Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson.
Rise to Success
In 2000, Avellan founded Emerging Markets Communications (EMC), which provided satellite communications to remote areas, maritime, and other mobility markets. He built EMC into a leading end-to-end satellite services company. EMC was sold in 2016 for $550 million. Following the sale of EMC, Avellan founded AST SpaceMobile in 2017, with the vision of building a space-based cellular broadband network. He has been the CEO of AST SpaceMobile since April 2021.
Key Business Strategies
Avellan's key business strategy with AST SpaceMobile involves creating a direct-to-device satellite network that connects directly to standard, unmodified smartphones. This eliminates the need for specialized equipment and expands coverage to areas without terrestrial cellular networks. AST SpaceMobile has partnered with major mobile network operators (MNOs) like Verizon, AT&T, and Vodafone to provide connections. The company's focus on innovative technology, including the large BlueBird satellites, has positioned it as a key player in the space-based telecommunications market.
Philanthropy
Abel Avellan also serves as a Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.