AT&T stock moves toward beta after satellite handoff
Published on 11/12/2026 at 13:14 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSSatellite integration moves toward service
- AT&T and AST SpaceMobile completed a handoff between ground-based and direct-to-device satellite networks.
- Beta services under real-world conditions are planned before commercial deployment.
- The satellite connection is designed to extend coverage in remote areas without replacing AT&T's terrestrial network.
AT&T and AST SpaceMobile have completed a live handoff between a terrestrial mobile network and a direct-to-device satellite network, marking a further step toward satellite connectivity for ordinary smartphones. AT&T described the milestone in a company announcement published on November 2, 2026.
The underlying test took place on Wednesday, October 21, outside Granite Falls, Washington, at 8:15 a.m. Pacific Time. An active connection moved from AT&T's ground-based wireless network to AST SpaceMobile's satellite network, addressing the challenge of keeping a call or data session connected as a user leaves terrestrial coverage.
From network test to beta services
In its announcement, AT&T said the handoff was the industry's first successful transition of this kind. The test builds on earlier voice calls, text messages and video calls made through AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites with everyday smartphones.
Ericsson supplied combined radio and core technology, including network automation for the terrestrial side. Nokia provided radio-access technology and mobility software for AST SpaceMobile's space-based network. The companies said the systems are intended to support service continuity as devices move between ground and satellite coverage.
Robert Walters, AT&T's senior vice president for Network, called the handoff a significant milestone but said it was not the finish line. He said the next phase is expected to include beta services under real-world conditions, with commercial service remaining the broader objective. The announcement did not provide a consumer launch date.
The satellite layer is designed to complement AT&T's wireless and fiber networks in remote and hard-to-reach locations. That positioning could expand coverage and add resilience for first responders, but the beta phase will need to establish how reliably the handoff performs outside a controlled test environment.
AT&T stock and investor focus
AT&T stock traded at 20.14 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 13:07 CET on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
The next investor focus is the move from technical demonstration to beta availability and, later, commercial deployment. The announcement provides a clear technology milestone but leaves the timing, customer terms and commercial rollout details open.
U.S. equities provide the broader market setting for AT&T's trading session; see Current S&P 500 coverage.
For more company-specific developments, see More news and analyses on AT&T stock.
AT&T Inc. at a glance
- Company: AT&T Inc.
- ISIN: US00206R1023
- NYSE ticker: T
- Lang & Schwarz price: 20.14 euros on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 13:07 CET
- Sector: Telecommunications
