What exactly did AT&T and AST SpaceMobile demonstrate?
On October 21, 2026, at 8:15 a.m. PT outside Granite Falls, Washington, a phone call on AT&T's wireless network transferred to AST SpaceMobile's satellite network as the phone moved out of cellular coverage, per AT&T's announcement. The companies call it the first successful handoff of its kind. The test used Ericsson's combined radio and core technology in AT&T's network, with automation that cut transition times from seconds to milliseconds, and Nokia radio access technology and mobility software on AST's side. AT&T principal engineer Brian Walsh said the connection worked "perfectly" and showed up in the engineering logs. Note this is the companies' own account of a controlled demonstration, not an independent test.
Why is a handoff such a big deal?
Because dropping is what satellite phone service does today. Walsh's analogy: a normal handoff between cell towers is like switching lanes on a highway, but handing a call to a satellite is "like going from the highway to a moving plane." With today's direct-to-device services, Starlink's included, Light Reading notes a call would disconnect when you leave cellular coverage and a new connection would have to be established with the satellite. Seamless handoff is the difference between satellite as an emergency coverage filler and satellite as a real extension of the phone network, where the network keeps your call, your data session and your apps alive without you thinking about it. That is exactly the experience AT&T says it is engineering toward.
When could AT&T customers actually use this?
Not soon, and the date has already slipped once. AT&T's next step is a beta phase under real-world conditions, then commercial service; it gave no timeframe. In January, AT&T said beta would start in the first half of this year, which did not happen. The binding constraint is satellites: AST has 13 in orbit and says it needs around 45 for continuous US coverage, a number it expects to reach around early 2027, per Light Reading and Via Satellite. Rakuten, AST's partner in Japan, is targeting commercial launch "in the near future" but currently gets only four to six minutes of satellite connectivity per pass, too short even to test a continuous video call. AT&T's commercial agreement with AST runs through 2030 on a revenue-share model, so the partnership itself is long-term even if the service is not here yet.
How does this compare to what Starlink is doing?
Opposite strategies for the same prize. AST's model is partner with carriers: AT&T integrates the satellites into its own network, keeps its customers, and shares revenue. SpaceX's model, sharpened in early November, is become a carrier: it is buying spectrum, won FCC approval for a 15,000-satellite direct-to-device constellation, and on November 4 signed Qualcomm to build a terrestrial 5G network for Starlink Mobile starting in 2027 (we covered the Qualcomm deal and the carrier refusals that pushed SpaceX this way). Light Reading reports SpaceX plans to start launching its next-generation D2D satellites next year with similar network integration, targeting commercial service in early 2028. The handoff demo puts AT&T and AST ahead on integration polish today; Starlink is far ahead on satellites in orbit. Both are years from mass-market service.
What does this mean for home internet?
Nothing: this is about phone calls, not broadband. Starlink's home plans, hardware and pricing are untouched, and our plans and prices guide stays current. If you order through our referral link, you and the site owner get the same reward, paid as cash or service credit after two months of subscription (Starlink's US example is $100; the amount shown in your Starlink account is what counts).
Frequently asked questions
Did AT&T really complete a call handoff to a satellite?
Per AT&T, yes: on October 21, 2026 outside Granite Falls, Washington, a call moved from its cellular network to AST SpaceMobile's satellite network without dropping. This is the companies' account of their own demonstration; it has not been independently verified.
What is a cellular-to-satellite handoff?
The same thing your phone does between cell towers, moving a live connection without dropping it, except one end is a satellite passing overhead. AT&T's engineers describe it as far harder than a tower-to-tower handoff; Ericsson's automation cut the transition from seconds to milliseconds.
When will AT&T satellite phone service launch?
No date. A real-world beta comes next, then commercial service. AST SpaceMobile says it needs about 45 satellites for continuous US coverage and expects to reach that around early 2027; it has 13 now. AT&T previously targeted a beta in the first half of 2026 and missed it.
Does Starlink's phone service do this today?
No. Current direct-to-device services, Starlink's included, drop the connection when you leave cellular coverage and reconnect via satellite. SpaceX is building its own integrated satellite-plus-terrestrial network with Qualcomm, with deployment planned from 2027.
Would I need a special phone?
No. AST SpaceMobile's system is designed for everyday, unmodified smartphones, and the October 21 demonstration used one.
Sources
- AT&T: AT&T and AST SpaceMobile: Engineering the Connected World, One Handoff at a Time (Nov. 2, 2026)
- Light Reading: AT&T, Rakuten tout integration with Starlink rival AST SpaceMobile for D2D services (Nov. 4, 2026)
- Via Satellite: AT&T and AST SpaceMobile Demonstrate Handoff Between Cellular, D2D Networks (Nov. 3, 2026)