AT&T and OneWeb Plan Satellite Access for Business in Remote Areas Across the US

Rhea-AI Summary

AT&T has entered a strategic agreement with OneWeb to enhance connectivity for its business customers in remote areas using satellite technology. This partnership aims to complement AT&T's existing fiber network, which currently serves over 2.5 million U.S. business locations. OneWeb's satellite network is expected to achieve global coverage with a total of 648 satellites by late 2022, expanding service to regions such as Alaska. This collaboration is designed to meet the high-speed, low-latency connectivity needs of enterprises and hard-to-reach cell towers as the nation recovers from COVID-19.

Positive

• AT&T's partnership with OneWeb enhances connectivity for remote business customers.
• Over 2.5 million U.S. business locations already have high-speed fiber connections.
• OneWeb's satellite network will soon provide coverage in Alaska and northern U.S. states.

Negative

• None.

DALLAS, Sept. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* has signed a strategic agreement with OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, to harness the capabilities of satellite technology to improve access for AT&T business customers into remote and challenging  geographic locations. The new connectivity will complement existing AT&T access technologies.

Why is this important? AT&T's leading business fiber network enables high-speed connections to over 2.5 million U.S. business customer locations. Nationwide, more than 9 million business customer locations are within 1,000 feet of AT&T fiber.ⁱ However, there are still remote areas that existing networks can't reach with the high-speed, low-latency broadband essential to business operations.

Who can use this? AT&T will use this technology to enhance connectivity when connecting to its enterprise, small and medium-sized business and government customers as well as hard-to-reach cell towers.

Where will it work? The AT&T service will be supported by OneWeb's network of satellites. OneWeb has launched 288 satellites and expects to attain global coverage with a total fleet of 648 satellites by the end of 2022. AT&T business and government customers in Alaska and northern U.S. states will be covered later this year.

What are people saying? 

"Working with OneWeb, we'll be able to enhance high-speed connectivity in places that we don't serve today and meet our customers wherever they are," said Scott Mair, President, Network Engineering and Operations, AT&T. "We're expanding our network with one more option to help ensure that our business customers have the high-speed, low-latency connectivity they need to thrive as the nation recovers from COVID-19."

"OneWeb's enterprise-grade network has a unique capability to serve hard-to-reach businesses and communities. Our work with AT&T will focus on how satellite technology can support improved capacity and coverage in remote, rural and challenging geographic locations," said Neil Masterson,  OneWeb Chief Executive Officer. "Today's agreement with AT&T demonstrates OneWeb's execution momentum and the confidence customers such as AT&T have in its services and offering."

About OneWeb

OneWeb is a global communications network powered from space, headquartered in London, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities. It is implementing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites with a network of global gateway stations and a range of user terminals to provide an affordable, fast, high-bandwidth and low-latency communications service, connected to the IoT future and a pathway to 5G for everyone, everywhere. Find out more at http://www.oneweb.world

*About AT&T Communications

We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). For more information, please visit us at att.com

 

i * The over 2.5 million U.S. business customer locations, which AT&T provides high-speed fiber connections, is included within the >9M U.S. business customer locations on or within 1,000 feet of our fiber.

                                                                   

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/att-and-oneweb-plan-satellite-access-for-business-in-remote-areas-across-the-us-301371306.html

SOURCE AT&T Communications

FAQ

What is the recent agreement between AT&T and OneWeb?

AT&T signed a strategic agreement with OneWeb to improve connectivity for business customers in remote areas using satellite technology.

How many business locations does AT&T serve with its fiber network?

AT&T's leading fiber network serves over 2.5 million U.S. business customer locations.

What areas will be covered by AT&T's new satellite service?

The satellite service will initially cover Alaska and northern U.S. states later this year.

How many satellites does OneWeb have and how many will they have by 2022?

OneWeb has launched 288 satellites and expects to achieve a total of 648 satellites by the end of 2022.