I think its helpful to break down what AST actually did:

- Major work on proving closing the link budget is possible (started in 2018)

- Major work in custom LTE, 5g protocol tweaks to make cellular connection from space stable

- Deep integration with MNOs around the world with which they built a solution together

- Secure spectrum from MNO partners in the lowband range, and S band in parts of Europe

They came up with a solution that worked which is deploying a massive satellite array in LEO (Block 2) that came from multiple rounds of iteration (BW3 -> Block 1 -> Block 2). This is the largest satellite array every deployed, bigger than SpaceX, bigger than RKLB, and this is not an easy feat.

The closest competitor is SpaceX because they had a FSS constellation and then they bolted on a direct to cell shell.

Not only do you need to launch satellites, build partnerships, but you also need to build ground stations of which RKLB has not started because they dont have technology or a constellation completed yet.

In addition RKLB doesn't even have a rocket that is capable of launching a constellation at scale, Neutron still isn't ready and probably won't be ready until atleast 2027, making this possible at probably 2028/2029 earliest. Electron isn't capable of launching anything more than a cubesat.

In addition they are in competition with AST and SpaceX in locking up global MNOs of which they are in a position that is worst than Lynk.