AT&T is beginning off the brand new yr with an eyebrow-raising transfer to draw customers. This comes at a time when it faces heightened competitors and is seeing an uptick in cellphone clients reducing service following controversy over its pricing.
In the course of the third quarter of 2025, AT&T noticed its postpaid cellphone churn (the quantity of consumers who disconnected their cellphone service) improve by 14 foundation factors yr over yr, reaching 0.92%, based on the corporate’s newest earnings report.
AT&T CEO John Stankey mentioned throughout an earnings name in October that the corporate’s rivals, similar to T-Cell and Verizon, have been “pretty aggressive” with their ways to draw new clients.
“It’s been competitive,” mentioned Stankey. “It continues to be competitive. There are shifts in tactics all the time that occur in this market, and we’re in a cycle right now that, because of the maturity level, tactics have shifted.”
AT&T’s elevated buyer losses comply with a latest survey from J.D. Energy, which discovered that the corporate lags behind its prime rivals in shopper satisfaction charges for its postpaid cellphone plans.
Telephone provider shopper satisfaction charges for postpaid cellphone plans:
- The common shopper satisfaction rating for postpaid plans below cell community operators is 593 (on a 1,000-point scale)
- T-Cell ranks the very best with a satisfaction rating of 636.
- Verizon takes second place with a 583 rating.
- AT&T falls behind Verizon with a satisfaction rating of 573.
Supply: J.D. Energy
“The findings show that value is the most important driver of the overall experience, followed closely by service quality,” mentioned Carl Lepper, senior director of expertise, media and telecom at J.D. Energy, in a press launch.
AT&T misplaced an alarming quantity of cellphone clients throughout the third quarter of 2025.
Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
AT&T will quickly roll out a brand new service for patrons
To assist hold tempo with its rivals, AT&T plans to sweeten the deal for its cellphone clients by launching a restricted beta program throughout the first half of this yr. This system will grant choose clients and FirstNet customers early entry to satellite-based mobile service, based on a latest press launch.
Since 2024, AT&T has been collaborating with AST SpaceMobile to develop a satellite tv for pc mobile service for patrons that may present protection in areas conventional cell towers are unable to achieve, particularly in distant or off-grid areas.
AT&T plans to launch this service commercially after its beta program rolls out this yr.
The transfer from AT&T follows the launch of AST SpaceMobile’s first next-generation BlueBird 6 satellite tv for pc final month, which AT&T claims is “a step closer” to creating broadband satellite tv for pc connectivity obtainable to its clients.
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At present, AST SpaceMobile has six satellites in orbit, and it plans to deploy 4 extra satellites by March.
AT&T claims that its satellite tv for pc mobile service will present “better coverage, better performance, and longer battery life” for related units, as AST SpaceMobile’s satellites function probably the most in depth energetic business antenna array in low Earth orbit.
Final month, AT&T examined this service with a number of public security companies, together with the U.S. Customs and Border Safety, the Texas Division of Public Security, and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Workplace in Colorado.
These departments had entry to voice and knowledge connections, in addition to FirstNet Fusion (an upcoming service that connects first responders throughout any radio system or U.S. wi-fi provider) by way of satellite tv for pc.
AT&T follows T-Cell amid a rising shopper pattern
The upcoming rollout of AT&T’s satellite tv for pc service will comply with T-Cell’s launch of T-Satellite tv for pc in July final yr, which is its direct-to-cell satellite tv for pc messaging service developed in partnership with Starlink.
By way of over 650 Starlink satellites, T-Satellite tv for pc supplies prolonged protection to greater than 500,000 sq. miles of U.S. territory that conventional cell towers can’t attain.
It permits customers to ship and obtain textual content messages and share their location in areas the place mobile protection is unavailable. T-Satellite tv for pc customers may even ship footage and voice messages on choose Android units and can later have the power to make video calls.
Extra Telecom Information:
- T-Cell declares free supply for Verizon and AT&T clients
- Verizon CEO sounds alarm on why clients are leaving in droves
- Spectrum raises crimson flag on explanation for fleeing buyer downside
Non-T-Cell clients can subscribe to T-Satellite tv for pc for $10 a month. Additionally, anybody with a appropriate cellphone (together with Verizon and AT&T clients) can signal as much as entry T-Satellite tv for pc’s 911 emergency texting function without spending a dime.
Verizon has additionally launched its personal satellite tv for pc service for its clients. In March final yr, it launched its free satellite tv for pc messaging service; nevertheless, it’s only appropriate with choose Android telephones, such because the Samsung Galaxy S25 or the Google Pixel 9.
Telephone carriers are quickly creating satellite tv for pc mobile companies at a time when many customers, particularly those that journey, have turn into more and more fascinated with buying a smartphone with satellite tv for pc connectivity capabilities for security causes, based on a latest survey from vacationers’ insurance coverage firm World Rescue.
How customers really feel about satellite-enabled smartphones:
- Over 30% of vacationers plan to purchase satellite-enabled smartphones quickly for enhanced security and safety, whereas 10% are already utilizing one.
- Additionally, 82% of vacationersreally feel safer with satellite tv for pc communications, attributable to its emergency capabilities.
- A complete of 49% of vacationers say that the power to name for assist out of mobile vary is a prime motive for his or her curiosity in satellite-enabled telephones.
- Furthermore, 37% mentioned that satellite-enabled smartphones would assist calm the nervousness of household and pals, providing a security internet for all concerned.
Supply: World Rescue
“Having a reliable way to communicate during emergencies, even in the most remote corners of the world, offers peace of mind,” mentioned Harding Bush, affiliate director of safety operations at World Rescue, within the survey.
“Whether facing a medical crisis or an unexpected natural disaster, the ability to alert emergency services could be life-saving,” he mentioned.
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