Carrier JV Locks Satellite Access Behind Telecom Fronts

The Big Three carriers forming a JV for satellite D2D is a defensive play IMO. T-Mobile already runs D2D with Starlink. AT&T and Verizon have AST SpaceMobile partnerships. They were missing a unified position keeping satellite providers from reaching customers directly. Pooling spectrum and setting common specs means satellite operators plug into the carriers' platform on the carriers' terms. Carriers stay the customer-facing layer. Dead zones are a real problem and the spectrum fragmentation argument has merit. The claim that this increases competition for satellite providers gets the dynamic backwards. A unified buyer concentrates demand. Whether regulators read it the same way is the next test.

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