AT&T and AST SpaceMobile Complete First Ground-to-Satellite Cellular Handoff

AT&T and AST SpaceMobile have achieved what they believe is the industry's first successful handoff between a ground-based cellular network and a direct-to-device satellite network. The milestone moves the companies closer to commercial service that keeps everyday smartphones connected across both terrestrial and space-based coverage.

Moving between ground and satellite coverage has typically meant a dropped call or an interrupted connection. The companies are working to engineer a seamless experience in which the network manages the transition in the background, helping users stay connected in more places. The achievement builds on previous voice calls, text messages, and video calls made through AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites using everyday smartphones.

The handoff occurred on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, outside Granite Falls, Washington, at 8:15 a.m. PT. This time the companies addressed a different challenge, moving a connection between AT&T's ground-based wireless network and AST SpaceMobile's satellite network without interruption. The effort relied on supporting ground-based radio, network integration, and mobility technologies from Ericsson and Nokia to enable the handoff and maintain service continuity.

AT&T provides its nationwide wireless network, while AST SpaceMobile provides the satellite network designed to connect directly with everyday smartphones. Ericsson supplies AT&T with combined radio and core technology plus intelligent network automation to optimize handoffs between ground-based and satellite networks, reducing transition times from seconds to milliseconds so that customers, first responders, and other essential workers stay connected. Nokia provides the radio access technology and mobility software that power AST SpaceMobile's space-based network, enabling handover, service continuity, and a smooth customer experience as users move between terrestrial and satellite coverage.

The companies describe the satellite connectivity as designed to complement and extend AT&T's terrestrial network rather than replace it, reaching remote and hard-to-reach areas and keeping customers connected where they live, work, and travel. The successful handoff advances the integration needed to deliver that experience, with terrestrial and satellite networks working together behind the scenes. For customers, the intended experience is staying connected without having to think about the technology behind it.

The companies framed the handoff as a significant step rather than a final one. "The successful handoff is a significant milestone, but it's not the finish line. The next phase is expected to include beta services under real-world conditions, allowing the companies to further refine performance," said Robert Walters, SVP Network, AT&T. "The broader objective is to progress ultimately to commercial service."

The next phase is expected to include beta services under real-world conditions to further refine performance, with the broader objective of progressing to commercial service.