This week in connectivity was defined by the satellite-to-phone arms race moving from headlines to balance sheets. The big three U.S. carriers confirmed plans for a direct-to-device joint venture to attack mobile dead zones, even as the space names that would supply that capacity took a beating: AST SpaceMobile slid hard after a Blue Origin rocket test explosion stoked launch-delay fears. Regulatory and balance-sheet stress added pressure, with Verizon on the wrong end of a Supreme Court ruling and EchoStar skipping a sizable interest payment. Underneath the drama, the IoT and edge-connectivity hardware names (Semtech, Digi, Cisco) generally held up better than the consumer and satellite groups.
Performance snapshot
Prices below reflect the latest available close as of Friday, June 5, 2026 (U.S. markets close at 3pm Central). Weekly change compares to the prior Friday, May 29, 2026. Figures marked “approx” could not be pinned to an exact close and should be treated as approximate.
| Company (Ticker) | Latest price | Week change |
|---|---|---|
| US Carriers | ||
| AT&T (T) | $22.77 | about flat (approx) |
| Verizon (VZ) | $44.98 | down 3.4% (approx) |
| T-Mobile (TMUS) | $177.02 | down 7.4% |
| Router & Equipment Makers | ||
| Ericsson (ERIC) | $13.35 | +2.2% |
| Semtech (SMTC) | $157.00 (approx) | +2.9% (approx) |
| Digi International (DGII) | $69.42 (approx) | up about 4% (approx) |
| Netgear (NTGR) | $25.89 (approx, May 28) | about flat (approx) |
| Inseego (INSG) | $11.35 | down sharply (approx) |
| Cisco (CSCO) | $129.67 | up about 2.5% (approx) |
| Plover Bay (1523.HK) | HK$8.52 (approx) | about flat (approx) |
| Satellite & Emerging | ||
| AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) | $93.50 | down 17.6% |
| Iridium (IRDM) | $46.72 | down (approx) |
| Globalstar (GSAT) | $82.65 | about flat (approx) |
| EchoStar / Dish (SATS) | $124.25 | +0.9% (approx) |
| Viasat (VSAT) | $67.35 | down about 16% (approx) |
Stories behind the moves
US Carriers. The headline event was AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile agreeing in principle to form a direct-to-device satellite joint venture aimed at eliminating mobile dead zones and bolstering emergency coverage, a rare instance of the three rivals pooling spectrum and network resources. The carrier reaction was muted to negative on the week: T-Mobile gave back ground from levels near $191 earlier in the week, and Verizon fell after the U.S. Supreme Court backed the FCC’s authority to fine the company over the handling of customer location data. AT&T finished roughly flat.
Router & Equipment Makers. The connectivity-hardware group was the steadier corner of the board. Ericsson (parent of Cradlepoint) and Cisco (Meraki) both firmed up, with Cisco trading near a 52-week high. Semtech (parent of Sierra Wireless) extended a strong run on continued IoT and LoRa momentum, trading close to its 52-week high. Digi International held near its highs despite some insider selling. Inseego was the notable exception, with a steep single-day drop on Friday, while Netgear and Plover Bay (Peplink’s listed parent) were comparatively quiet.
Satellite & Emerging. This was the week’s most volatile group. AST SpaceMobile was the standout loser after a Blue Origin New Glenn test rocket explosion raised fears of launch delays for ASTS, compounded by an analyst downgrade. Viasat continued to fall in the wake of a disappointing quarterly report. EchoStar was roughly flat but remains under a cloud after electing not to make about $183 million in interest payments due June 1. Iridium was choppy and finished lower amid an analyst downgrade, while Globalstar held near the roughly $90 per share value implied by Amazon’s pending acquisition.
Starlink and Amazon Leo (news only). SpaceX kept the launch cadence going, deploying another batch of Starlink satellites from Vandenberg while a separate Cape Canaveral mission was scrubbed for weather, and its direct-to-cell push with T-Mobile continued to expand. A widely noted prospectus also framed Starlink Mobile as a future wireless challenger, which helps explain why the big three carriers are banding together. Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) added satellites with another Atlas V launch, pushing its deployed total past 300, though it still faces a steep FCC milestone to reach roughly 1,600 satellites by late July and a realistic broad-availability timeline closer to 2027.
5Gstore Take
The signal this week is consolidation of intent: carriers are no longer treating satellite connectivity as a novelty, they are building it into the network roadmap, and the equipment that bridges cellular and satellite is where a lot of the practical value will land for businesses. For organizations that need resilient connectivity today, the move is to standardize on flexible routers and failover hardware that can adapt as direct-to-device services mature, rather than betting on a single carrier or constellation. If you want help mapping this to your fleet or a specific site, contact our team and we can talk through options. You can also browse current gear and deals at 5Gstore.com.
Brands we carry that are relevant to this week’s themes: Peplink, Cradlepoint, Sierra Wireless / Semtech, Inseego, Digi, Teltonika, and Katalyst.
FAQ
Why did AST SpaceMobile drop so much this week?
Shares fell after a Blue Origin test rocket explosion raised concerns about possible launch delays for the company’s satellite deployment plans, with an analyst downgrade adding to the pressure.
What is the carrier satellite joint venture about?
AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile agreed in principle to combine resources on a direct-to-device satellite service designed to fill mobile coverage gaps and support emergency communications, which would let standard phones connect via satellite in areas without terrestrial signal.
How does this affect the routers and gear 5Gstore sells?
Direct-to-device and satellite backhaul make flexible, multi-WAN routers and failover hardware more valuable, since businesses increasingly want equipment that can blend cellular, wired, and satellite links. For coverage details and product fit, see a recent industry source such as Yahoo Finance or reach out to us directly.
Are these prices exact?
They reflect the latest available quotes near Friday’s close. Items marked “approx” could not be tied to an exact closing print and should be treated as approximate.
This post is informational market commentary, not investment advice. Prices and weekly changes reflect the latest available quotes near the June 5, 2026 close and may be revised; figures marked “approx” are approximate. Always do your own research before making any investment decision.
About the Author
Michael Ginsberg is the founder of 5Gstore.com, a trusted source for cellular routers and failover networking solutions since 2005. With a background in software and networking dating back to 1988, he writes about cellular connectivity, IoT infrastructure, network security, and fleet management. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn or reach the 5Gstore team through our contact page.
