The big three wireless carriers can work together when it makes sense. The companies have struck an agreement in principle to form a joint venture aimed at using direct-to-device (D2D) technology to eliminate dead zones in the United States.
The joint venture between AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon will pool spectrum resources to increase capacity, buttress customer experience, and expand satellite providers’ D2D reach through the creation of a unified platform.
The joint venture is subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements between the parties and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Customer benefits of the nascent joint venture — and the technology it promises to enable — will including reducing the number of dead zones and providing redundant D2D connectivity to existing ground-based networks for emergencies and cases in which terrestrial-based networks are unavailable.
The press release said the joint venture will provide consumers with more consistent performance and simpler access to services across providers, increasing the speed of feature updates and improving connectivity. The joint venture will also encourage innovation, the three companies said.
The press release said that the industry will benefit as well. Satellite service providers offering D2D connectivity will get the chance to compete, invest, and grow with the joint venture. Mobile network operators (MNOs) will be able to deploy new services more quickly, spectrum will be more efficiently used, and device compatibility will grow.
“Our goal is to make staying connected simple, no matter where you are — on a rural highway, in a national park, on a boat, or during an emergency,” AT&T Chairman and CEO John Stankey said in the press release.
“By joining with other carriers, we’re bringing our combined expertise to accelerate our customers’ access to reliable, and always-on coverage everywhere. This collaboration not only makes connectivity easier; it strengthens America’s communications leadership.”
As suggested by the joint venture, the D2D approach is popular. According to a survey from GSMA Intelligence released late last year, 56% of the more than 12,000 mobile phone users queried would pay extra to have the ability to link their devices directly to satellites.
