Dallas – October 01, 2026 -- AT&T, T-Mobile US and Verizon Communications have signed a joint venture agreement to expand wireless and satellite coverage in underserved areas of the United States, formalizing a plan first disclosed in May to pool limited spectrum resources.
Three rival carriers agree to share spectrum to eliminate dead zones
The agreement builds on the companies' earlier pledge to combine spectrum assets in order to reduce coverage gaps and extend satellite connectivity to customers nationwide. Terrestrial mobile networks will continue operating independently, with the JV targeting regions where traditional cell service remains unreliable or unavailable.
Paul Roth named interim CEO as search for permanent leader begins
Paul Roth, a wireless industry veteran with prior leadership roles at AT&T, Cingular Wireless and Ameritech, will lead the venture on an interim basis while a formal search for a permanent chief executive is underway. The JV will be overseen by a board comprising representatives from each of the three founding carriers.
Existing satellite agreements stay intact despite new collaboration
AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon will retain their individual carrier-satellite partnerships and can pursue connectivity initiatives independently outside the scope of the JV. The venture is positioned to enable broader competition and simplify integration between satellite and mobile networks, according to the companies.