AT&T Business added a hint of color to plans for integrating Amazon’s satellite-based Leo service, which will run as a managed connectivity layer on top of AT&T’s fiber and wireless network services.
New details note the service will be provided as a managed offering to AT&T Business customers. This includes redundancy and increased reach across terrestrial and now extra-terrestrial connectivity.
AT&T touted this “unified architecture” as different from competitor’s “standalone service” by allowing users to “leverage the right connectivity option for their business needs through a single provider and experience. This architecture supports flexible networking options, allowing customers to integrate satellite connectivity seamlessly into their preferred IT and network environments.”
What’s not yet being provided is service availability, pricing, and specific product configurations for interested enterprise customers. That might be likely due to the still nascent maturity of Amazon’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation.
The Federal Communications Commission recently granted Amazon a conditional waiver that removed the mandate that it have half of its Leo satellite constellation in orbit by July 30 after declining a February request by the company to have the deadline extended by two years. Amazon currently has around 400 satellites in orbit, with Leo management having said the constellation will enter commercial service later this year.
