Big Three Mobile Carriers Planning to Pool Spectrum for Satellite Operators

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2026 – The three national mobile carriers are planning on a joint venture to pool their spectrum resources and create a platform for direct-to-device satellite companies to partner with them and access those airwaves.

The carriers each have individual deals with satellite companies to provide service on their terrestrial spectrum outside the reach of their networks. T-Mobile already offers its T-Satellite service with SpaceX, and AT&T and Verizon are backing AST SpaceMobile, which is aiming to deliver service by the end of the year.

Those agreements would remain in place and the carriers “can continue connectivity efforts independently,” the companies said  in a release Thursday. The joint venture also still hasn’t been finalized.