To have an edge over the competition, AT&T is starting the year with the launch of a new service. This program will give select customers and FirstNet users early access to satellite-based cellular service. The service will begin during the first half of the year in a limited beta initially. This move comes at a time when the telecom giant is facing stiff competition and is seeing an uptick in phone customers cutting the service after controversy over its pricing.
AT&T kicks off the year with satellite service
During the third quarter of 2025, AT&T saw its postpaid phone churn, which is the number of customers who disconnected their phone service, increase by 14 basis points year over year, reaching 0.92%. The company’s CEO, John Stankey, during an earnings call in October last year, said that the company’s competitors like T-Mobile and Verizon have been “pretty aggressive” in their tactics to lure new customers.
To keep up with the competition, AT&T is bringing this new satellite service. AT&T has been collaborating with AST SpaceMobile behind the scenes to develop a satellite cellular service for customers. This will provide coverage in areas where traditional cell towers are not available or reachable. AT&T plans to launch this service commercially after the beta program rolls out this year.
The limited beta program for the service will begin in the first half of 2026
The latest announcement follows the launch of AST SpaceMobile’s first next-gen BlueBird 6 satellite last month, which AT&T claims brings it a step closer to making broadband satellite connectivity available to its customers. Currently, AST SpaceMobile has six satellites in orbit, and it intends to deploy four additional satellites by March.
AT&T says that its satellite cellular service will provide “better coverage, better performance, and a longer battery life” for connected devices. This is because AST SpaceMobile’s satellites feature the most extensive active commercial antenna array in low Earth orbit.
AT&T apparently tested this service last month with several public safety agencies, including the US Customs and Border Protection, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado. These departments had access to voice and data connections, as well as FirstNet Fusion. This is an upcoming service that connects first responders across any radio system or US wireless carrier via satellite.
The competition
The upcoming rollout of AT&T satellite service follows T-Mobile, which launched its T-Satellite in July last year. This is its direct-to-cell satellite messaging service developed in partnership with Starlink. T-Satellite provides extended coverage via 650 Starlink satellites to more than 500,000 square miles of US territory. This allows users to send/receive text messages and share their location in areas where cellular coverage is unavailable.
Satellite services are seeing growing popularity lately, with many consumers being very much interested in getting smartphones with satellite connectivity capabilities, especially for safety reasons.
