AT&T Targets H1 2026 for Direct-to-Device Satellite Service Beta

AT&T has confirmed plans to launch a beta direct-to-device (D2D) satellite service in the first half of 2026.

The update follows the successful launch of AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 6 satellite and continued progress in deploying the supporting ground infrastructure. AT&T has now brought four satellite gateways online, linking AST SpaceMobile’s LEO satellites directly into its terrestrial network to enable seamless satellite–cellular integration.

AT&T’s focus is on native cellular services from space, rather than standalone satellite offerings. The company has already demonstrated voice, data, and mission-critical services over AST SpaceMobile’s satellites, including tests with public safety agencies on FirstNet, the nationwide broadband network for first responders.

AT&T says these milestones are building toward a limited beta service for select AT&T customers and FirstNet users in early 2026, with a broader commercial rollout planned afterward. The FirstNet Authority is also upgrading the dedicated FirstNet core to support priority, preemption, and mission-critical push-to-talk over satellite, extending coverage into remote and hard-to-reach areas.

The announcement reinforces AT&T’s strategy to treat satellites as an extension of its mobile network, using large LEO antennas and fewer satellites to deliver 4G/5G connectivity directly to standard smartphones, and positions 2026 as a pivotal year for D2D NTN services in the U.S. market.

SOURCE: https://about.att.com/blogs/2025/att-satellite-successes.html