Summary
AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have entered a joint-venture agreement to expand satellite-enabled mobile coverage in underserved parts of the United States. Paul Roth will lead the venture as interim CEO while the partners search for a permanent chief executive.
AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have entered a joint-venture agreement to expand satellite-enabled mobile coverage in underserved parts of the United States. AT&T said on October 1, 2026, that Paul Roth will serve as interim CEO while the partners search for a permanent chief executive.
The venture is intended to make satellite connectivity easier to deliver where conventional mobile service is limited. The companies say it will complement—not replace—their terrestrial mobile networks, and could improve direct-to-device access. The announcement sets out the venture’s aims rather than describing a customer service launch.
Satellites as a complement to mobile networks
Mobile networks rely on ground-based infrastructure, while satellite links offer another way to provide connectivity in areas where terrestrial service is difficult to deliver. The three carriers say the venture will focus on coverage gaps and bring more consistency to how satellite services work across providers.
The announcement follows a May plan for the companies to pool limited spectrum resources to help expand satellite coverage. It identifies direct-to-device (D2D) access as an initial area for improvement, but does not detail the technical design or explain how the spectrum will be used.
The partners say the venture aims to reach areas in the US that currently lack mobile service and provide a backup connection when ground networks are unavailable, including during extreme natural disasters or other unusual disruptions. They also expect shared technical specifications to make the experience more consistent across providers and enable simpler integration of new services.
Leadership and scope
Roth previously held leadership roles at AT&T, Cingular Wireless and Ameritech. The joint venture will be governed by a board with representatives from each of its three founding members.
The companies also intend to broaden opportunities for satellite providers and work with rural mobile network operators to bring new products to their customers. Their announcement presents these as goals of the venture; it does not give a schedule for service availability.
Existing agreements between each carrier and satellite companies will remain in place. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon can also continue their connectivity efforts independently of the joint venture.