Unlikely partners AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have announced a joint venture that will help ensure iPhone users can get a signal even in previous cellular dead spots.
Working together for once, the companies announced a tentative agreement to use satellite technologies to help narrow their coverage gaps. They expect unserved and underserved communities to benefit the most.
Once operational, the new company is expected to help people maintain a connection even in areas where service is normally limited. It is also hoped that the days when remote areas did not have cell service would be a thing of the past.
Technology directly on the device
Announced via a press release, the joint venture will use direct-to-device (D2D) satellite technologies. T-Mobile was the first to launch D2D technology for text and data, the company notes, while AT&T announced similar functionality in 2024.
Apple has long given iPhone owners the ability to use satellite communications in an emergency. However, this was limited to short text messages to emergency services.
In the case of this new joint venture, D2D technology will be used “when existing ground networks are unavailable due to extreme natural disasters or other unusual disruptions.”
Notably, the announcement does not confirm which services (data, text or voice) will be available via the D2D connection. It’s also unclear which devices will support the technology, given the differences between cellular modems.