In a landmark move for the US telecom industry, rivals AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are joining forces to build a satellite-based network designed to provide universal mobile coverage.
In a landmark move for the US telecom industry, rivals AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are joining forces to build a satellite-based network designed to provide universal mobile coverage.
(P1) AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon on May 20 announced a new joint venture to pool resources for satellite-supported mobile coverage, a strategic pivot intended to eliminate service dead zones across the United States.
(P2) "T-Mobile is committed to advancing the infrastructure, technology and partnerships that first responders need to save lives every single day," said André Almeida, Chief Broadband, Enterprise & Emerging Business Officer at T-Mobile, in a statement that reflects the broader industry push towards ubiquitous connectivity.
(P3) While financial terms of the joint venture were not disclosed, the announcement immediately shifted market focus to technology enablers like AST SpaceMobile. The move comes as incumbent operators like AT&T face short-term stock pressure, with its shares down 14.82% over the last 90 days, even as its three-year total shareholder return stands at a robust 75.42%.
(P4) The venture represents a significant validation of the direct-to-device satellite market, potentially accelerating a new era of competition and technological rollout. The collaboration will likely face significant regulatory review, but if approved, it could fundamentally reshape mobile service availability in rural and remote areas of the country.
The partnership is seen as bullish for companies providing the underlying technology. The source material for the announcement identified AST SpaceMobile as a potential "bigger winner," suggesting investors see the value in the "picks and shovels" providers that will enable the network's construction. This industry-wide adoption signals a potential fast-tracking of satellite-based mobile services, a market that has until now been explored by individual operators but not through such a unified front. T-Mobile, for instance, already operates a "T-Satellite" service for first responders using Starlink's network, which supported over 250,000 users during Winter Storm Fern.
For investors, the joint venture adds a new long-term catalyst for the telecom giants. AT&T's stock, which closed recently at $24.43, is trading well below some analyst targets. According to analysis from Goran_Damchevski highlighted by Simply Wall St, a fair value for AT&T could be as high as $32.12 per share. This view suggests the current price reflects a valuation gap, with the market yet to fully price in future growth from initiatives like the satellite venture, which aims to create unique service bundles and drive shareholder returns by expanding the addressable market.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
