Your carrier may soon get help from its biggest rivals when you’re off-grid

• AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon plan to form a joint venture focused on direct-to-device satellite connectivity.
• The goal is to reduce US dead zones and improve backup connectivity during emergencies or natural disasters.
• The plan is still only an agreement in principle, with no confirmed launch timeline yet.

We’re required to nail our colors to the mast when it comes to our carrier, but when you’re off grid and struggling to get any reception, you probably don’t care which provider helps you get connected. For all the talk of nationwide coverage, dead zones are still very much a thing, and now AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are planning a rare team-up to tackle the issue.

The three biggest US carriers have announced an agreement in principle to form a new joint venture focused on direct-to-device satellite connectivity. The aim is to make it easier for your phone to stay connected in places where traditional cell towers don’t reach, especially rural and underserved parts of the US.