The competition to bring satellite connectivity into traditional wireless networks is accelerating.
On September 8, 2026, AT&T announced an expanded partnership with Amazon Leo that will allow AT&T Business to offer satellite broadband alongside its fiber and 5G services. The agreement makes AT&T the first major U.S. telecommunications provider to offer Amazon Leo broadband directly to its customers.
The move adds another major player to a satellite market already being reshaped by SpaceX’s Starlink, AST SpaceMobile, and the country’s largest wireless carriers.
For property owners with cell tower or rooftop antenna leases, the bigger story is how satellite is becoming another part of the wireless network and where traditional cell sites fit as the technology develops.
AT&T Adds Amazon Leo to Its Network
Under the agreement, AT&T will offer Amazon Leo satellite broadband to business and public-sector customers in locations where traditional connectivity may be unavailable, impractical, or in need of a backup option.
AT&T will handle the equipment, installation, billing, and support. Customers will receive the satellite service through their existing relationship with AT&T rather than dealing directly with Amazon.
AT&T identified potential uses including remote operations in oil and gas, mining, agriculture, and construction; temporary connectivity for events and emergency response; and backup service when terrestrial networks are unavailable.
The September announcement expands a relationship announced earlier in 2026 between AT&T, AWS, and Amazon Leo.
Pricing and detailed availability have not yet been announced. AT&T says deployment will occur in phases, with additional information expected as the service moves toward broader availability.
The Satellite Race Is Getting More Crowded
SpaceX has a substantial head start.
Starlink has reported roughly 13 million subscribers worldwide as of mid-2026, while T-Mobile already offers T-Satellite using SpaceX’s Direct to Cell network to extend mobile coverage beyond traditional cell sites.
AT&T and Verizon are taking a different path through AST SpaceMobile, which is building a satellite network designed to connect directly to ordinary smartphones using carrier spectrum.
Amazon is building on another front. Amazon Leo currently has more than 390 satellites in orbit and says it expects to begin rolling out fixed broadband service across initial latitude bands later in 2026.
Amazon is also developing its own direct-to-device satellite network, with deployment expected to begin in 2028.
Satellite is no longer developing separately from the traditional wireless industry. It is increasingly becoming part of the major carriers’ network strategies.
The AT&T–Amazon Leo Deal Is Not Direct-to-Phone Service
One distinction is important.
The Amazon Leo service AT&T announced is essentially another way for a business to connect to the internet. Instead of relying on a fiber or cable line running into the building, the business would use Amazon Leo equipment installed at the property to connect to satellites overhead.
For a remote business without a reliable, wired connection, satellite broadband could serve as its primary internet service. For a business already connected through fiber or cable, it could provide a backup connection if that service goes down.
That is different from direct-to-device satellite service, which connects an ordinary smartphone directly to a satellite when terrestrial cellular coverage is unavailable.
AT&T is pursuing that capability separately through AST SpaceMobile. AT&T and AST have a commercial agreement to provide direct-to-device satellite connectivity using AT&T spectrum.
So AT&T is pursuing satellite technology in two different ways: Amazon Leo for internet connectivity at businesses and other locations, and AST SpaceMobile for extending mobile coverage directly to customers’ phones.
How Much of AT&T’s Traffic Still Relies on Fiber and 5G?
Today, AT&T says fiber and 5G carry approximately 98% of its traffic. But the Amazon Leo partnership shows that the way AT&T delivers connectivity is continuing to expand.
Satellite gives AT&T another option in places where traditional infrastructure may be difficult or expensive to build, and it can provide backup connectivity when terrestrial networks are unavailable.
The immediate impact on cell towers and rooftop sites may be limited, but the longer-term picture is less certain. As satellite technology improves, carriers will have more flexibility in deciding how and where they provide service.
That could eventually influence decisions about which cell sites are upgraded, where new sites are needed, and which existing sites remain necessary.
What This Means for Cell Tower and Rooftop Leases
For property owners, these changes become especially relevant when a carrier or other company requests a rent reduction, lease amendment, extension, or other change to an existing lease.
If changes in technology or the wireless network are part of the reason being given, the focus should be on the specific site. Is the carrier still using it? Has equipment recently been added or upgraded? Does the site provide important coverage or capacity in the area? Are there realistic alternatives nearby? And what rights does the existing lease already give the carrier?
Technology also matters when evaluating a lease buyout because a buyer is purchasing the right to receive future rent. The possibility of changes to the wireless network is part of that equation, but so are the rent, annual increases, remaining lease term, renewal options, carrier rights, importance of the site, and terms of the proposed buyout.
What to Watch Next
The bigger question is how quickly satellite moves from filling coverage gaps and providing backup connectivity to taking on a larger role in carrier networks.
Amazon is still building out Leo, while direct-to-device satellite networks are also continuing to develop.
How these services perform at scale, and how carriers ultimately use them, will provide a much clearer picture of their long-term impact on traditional wireless infrastructure.
Have a Lease Decision in Front of You?
If you have received a rent reduction request, amendment, extension, or buyout offer, Nexus Towers can help you evaluate it in the context of both your lease and the changes taking place across the wireless industry.
Nexus Towers works exclusively on behalf of property owners. We review your existing lease, evaluate the proposal and its terms, and help owners understand their options before making a long term decision.
For lease buyouts, we also determine what the lease is worth and whether selling makes sense. If an owner decides to explore a sale, we bring qualified buyers to the table, run a competitive blind-bidding process, evaluate the offers and deal terms, and provide guidance throughout the transaction.
Contact Nexus Towers for a complimentary lease review.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Amazon Leo?
Amazon Leo is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite network, formerly known as Project Kuiper. Amazon currently has more than 390 satellites in orbit and is working toward commercial fixed broadband service.
Amazon is also developing a separate direct-to-device satellite network intended to connect ordinary mobile devices.
Is AT&T replacing cell towers with Amazon Leo?
The Amazon Leo agreement does not mean AT&T is replacing its cell tower network. AT&T currently says fiber and 5G carry approximately 98% of its traffic.
The longer-term impact is less certain. As satellite capabilities improve, they could give AT&T and other carriers more options when deciding how and where to provide service.
Is AT&T’s Amazon Leo service the same as Starlink Direct to Cell?
No. The Amazon Leo service announced by AT&T provides internet connectivity through satellite equipment installed at a business or other location. Starlink Direct to Cell is designed to connect ordinary mobile phones directly to satellites.
AT&T is pursuing direct-to-device satellite connectivity separately through its partnership with AST SpaceMobile.
Does the Amazon Leo partnership affect my AT&T cell tower lease?
The partnership does not change the terms of an existing lease. The more important question is whether satellite and other network changes eventually affect AT&T’s need for a particular site.
That will vary by location and depend on factors such as the role the site plays in the network, available alternatives, carrier requirements, and the rights contained in the lease.
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Disclaimer: Nexus Towers is not affiliated with or endorsed by any company mentioned in this article. All trademarks and company names belong to their respective owners and are used for identification and commentary only. This article discusses developments in the wireless and satellite industries for informational purposes only. It is not intended to predict the future performance, value, renewal, termination, or modification of any particular wireless lease or property. Property owners should review their specific lease and circumstances with appropriate legal, tax, and financial professionals before making decisions regarding a wireless lease or property rights.
