AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are working together to tackle dead zones

We all need to be in our best skin when it comes to our carriers, but when you’re off the grid and struggling to get any reception, you probably don’t care which provider helps you connect. Despite all the talk of nationwide coverage, dead zones are still a big problem, and now AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are planning a rare team-up to tackle the issue.

The three largest US carriers are announced an agreement in principle Creating a new joint venture focused on direct-to-device satellite connectivity. Its purpose is to make it easier for your phone to stay connected in places where traditional cell towers don’t reach, especially rural and underserved parts of the US.

According to Verizon’s announcement, the joint venture will pool limited spectrum resources and create an integrated platform to help satellite providers reach more customers. The companies say this should improve capacity and give customers a simpler experience when regular mobile networks are not available. If this plan is carried out, the goal would be to “virtually eliminate” dead zones in the US, reach previously unserved and underserved areas, and provide backup connectivity during emergencies or natural disasters when ground-based networks are unavailable.

On the industry side, the joint venture will create common technical specifications and support broad device compatibility involving OS providers, app developers and device manufacturers. Existing carrier-satellite agreements will remain in place, so it does not replace the carriers’ individual satellite efforts.

Before we start throwing our hats off to the big three, let’s keep in mind that this is still only an agreement in theory – it’s not guaranteed to happen, and there’s no time frame yet if it does. Still, if AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon can put aside their differences for the good of those who need a signal most, they’ll deserve some credit.