Overview
- AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon said Thursday they reached an agreement in principle to form a venture that would expand coverage using satellites.
- Direct-to-device service would let standard smartphones connect to low Earth orbit satellites when cell towers are out of reach, which could keep people online in rural areas and during disasters.
- The venture aims to create unified technical specifications and coordinate terrestrial spectrum so satellite and ground networks work together more smoothly.
- Each carrier’s existing satellite deals will stay in place, and the venture expects to work with multiple providers such as SpaceX’s Starlink and AST SpaceMobile.
- The deal is not final and key details remain, including which phones and services will be supported, while real-world rollout faces limits like AST’s small in-orbit fleet and recent launch setbacks.