AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Plan to Launch New Joint Venture that Helps End Dead Zones
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are collaborating on a new venture to improve wireless coverage in remote areas. This initiative aims to eliminate dead zones and enhance connectivity for underserved communities. The venture will also involve increased satellite capacity to boost network reach.
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AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have an agreement in principle to form a new JV which aims to help end wireless dead zones in the U.S., including in rural areas, by pooling limited spectrum resources to increase capacity, improve the customer experience, and help satellite providers reach more customers through a unified platform. The JV remains subject to negotiating definitive agreements between the parties and satisfying customary closing conditions.
Collectively, satellite services function as supplementary components to the core wireless services customers depend on. By collaborating on this JV, the partners will be able to enhance convenience for their customers, enable competition and foster innovation and growth within the industry.
"Our goal is to make staying connected simple, no matter where you are, on a rural highway, in a national park, on a boat, or during an emergency. By joining with other carriers, we're bringing our combined expertise to accelerate our customers' access to reliable, and always-on coverage everywhere. This collaboration not only makes connectivity easier; it strengthens America's communications leadership," said John Stankey, Chairman and CEO, AT&T.
"Having launched the first nationwide, satellite-powered direct-to-device network for text and data, we've seen firsthand how critical reliable connectivity can be when America needs it most. With the expansion of satellite constellations, soon to be supported by multiple space-based operators, this JV will use expanded capacity and improved performance to deliver the best possible service to customers. This partnership will also make it easier for satellite operators to deliver a broader range of direct-to-device experiences and help accelerate innovation across the wireless and satellite industries. Together, we're aiming to advance a future where America stays connected in more places, with fewer dead zones and greater access to the products and experiences people rely on every day," said Srini Gopalan, President and CEO, T-Mobile.
"Customers' daily lives depend on our services. To thrive in today's world, staying connected is essential. We are not just closing gaps on a map, we are building resilient digital infrastructure that meets the changing needs of our customers, no matter where life takes them. This partnership gives customers more options, continues to strengthen America's infrastructure and increases competition for satellite providers," said Dan Schulman, CEO, Verizon.
Customer Benefits
Terrestrial mobile networks will continue to deliver the high-quality experience customers expect every day. However, reliable connectivity has never been more important. Once finalized, in areas where traditional cell service is a challenge, the JV would aim to provide customers with stronger, even more reliable connectivity and greater choice.
- Fewer coverage gaps: Will nearly eliminate dead zones in the U.S. currently without mobile service, reaching previously unserved areas.
- Reliable connectivity in emergencies: Redundant connectivity will become available when existing ground-based networks are unavailable due to extreme natural disasters or other unusual disruptions.
- Improved network performance: Will give customers more consistent performance and simpler access to satellite services across providers. This will speed up feature updates and improve connectivity for everyone, everywhere.
- Innovative communications services: Through combined investment by the three JV partners, provider options will expand, and, as a first step, D2D access will improve. This will enhance competition as consumer choices grow in satellite service. Emerging communications technologies can be more easily and quickly developed and launched to enhance customer experience.
- Common technical specifications: A unified approach will provide a better and more consistent customer experience across the industry.
Industry Benefits
The JV would aim to drive industry progress by enabling competition, fostering innovation, expanding access, and simplifying integration, delivering significant benefits for satellite and mobile connectivity.
- Expanded access: More satellite service providers will gain opportunities to compete, invest, and grow and the JV will work with rural mobile network operators (MNO) to enable them to bring new products to market for their customers.
- Easy technical integration: MNOs will be able to deploy innovative new services for customers more quickly.
About the company
About AT&T We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 150 years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com. About T-Mobile US, Inc. As the supercharged Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is powered by an award-winning 5G network that connects more people, in more places, than ever before. With T-Mobile's unique value proposition of best network, best value and best experiences, the Un-carrier is redefining connectivity and fueling competition while continuing to drive the next wave of innovation in wireless and beyond. Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com. About Verizon Communications Inc. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $138.2 billion in 2025. Verizon's world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com or find a retail location at verizon.com/stores.
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