This Week in Connectivity
The story of the week was the analyst counterattack on satellite mobile hype colliding with a big financing move. AST SpaceMobile priced a $1 billion convertible note offering and shares tumbled roughly 25% on the week, a reminder that the market is still rewarding satellite ambition but punishing dilution. Direct to device kept advancing on the ground, with Starlink launching Direct to Cell in Italy through the Fastweb and Vodafone partnership and Amazon Leo confirming it now has enough satellites in orbit to begin initial service later this year. Equipment earnings turned mixed as Ericsson beat on profit but missed on revenue and warned that rising memory chip costs will pressure margins, while the US carriers steadied after a rough stretch. Viasat extended one of the year’s biggest rallies, and freshly listed SpaceX slid after aborting a Starship test flight.
Performance This Week
Prices below are the latest available closes as of July 17, 2026. Weekly changes are approximate, measured against the July 10, 2026 close, and directional where an exact prior close could not be pinned. Figures marked approx should be treated as estimates.
| Company (Ticker) | Latest Price | Weekly Change |
|---|---|---|
| US Carriers | ||
| AT&T (T) | $22.12 | +1.0% approx |
| Verizon (VZ) | $43.84 | +2.0% approx |
| T-Mobile (TMUS) | $192.43 | +0.5% approx |
| Router & Equipment Makers | ||
| Ericsson (ERIC) | $10.15 approx | down 4% approx |
| Semtech (SMTC) | $123.08 (Jul 16) | down 5% approx |
| Digi International (DGII) | $64.00 (Jul 16) | down 3% approx |
| Netgear (NTGR) | $24.23 | +1.0% approx |
| Inseego (INSG) | $7.58 (Jul 16) | down 2% approx |
| Cisco (CSCO) | $111.96 | +1.0% approx |
| Plover Bay (1523.HK) | HK$7.93 (Jul 14) | +2.0% approx |
| Satellite & Emerging | ||
| AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) | $54.99 | down 25% |
| Iridium (IRDM) | $53.70 approx | flat approx |
| Globalstar (GSAT) | $82.53 | +2.0% approx |
| EchoStar (ECHO) | $100.00 approx | +1.0% approx |
| Viasat (VSAT) | $68.71 | +8% approx |
| SpaceX (SPCX) | $131.11 | down 10% approx |
Stories Behind the Moves
US Carriers
The three big carriers found their footing this week after their worst stretch in years. AT&T closed near $22.12 and reports second quarter earnings on July 22, with the stock still weighed down by a fresh Wells Fargo Underweight rating framed explicitly around Starlink risk. Verizon held firm after being named the connectivity provider for newly manufactured BMW Group vehicles through its KDDI partnership. T-Mobile was little changed near $192, digesting a recent BofA upgrade that argued satellite fears are overblown. The common thread remains investor anxiety about satellite direct to device competition, even as most analysts now say that threat is years away in populated areas.
Router and Equipment Makers
Equipment names split on company specific news. Ericsson, the parent of Cradlepoint, delivered its worst earnings reaction in nearly three years after revenue fell about 6% year over year and management flagged a semiconductor cost squeeze from AI driven memory demand, though a better than expected margin cushioned the blow. Semtech, the parent of Sierra Wireless, pulled back toward $123 after a strong June run. Digi International gave back some recent gains even after rolling out DANI, an AI driven network operations agent inside Digi Remote Manager. Netgear held up on its Nighthawk Wi-Fi 7 product cycle, Cisco stayed near $112 on continued AI infrastructure momentum, and Peplink parent Plover Bay traded firm in Hong Kong near HK$7.93.
Satellite and Emerging
Satellite was where the action was. AST SpaceMobile priced $1 billion of convertible senior notes at an initial conversion price near $79.57 and shares fell roughly 25% on the week on dilution worries. Iridium held close to $54, tracking the pending $8 billion Rocket Lab acquisition, and reports second quarter results on July 22 without a call given the deal. Viasat kept climbing, up more than 6% in a single session and extending a triple digit year to date rally. EchoStar continued trading under its new ECHO ticker. SpaceX, public since June 12, slipped toward $131 after scrubbing a Starship test flight, and Globalstar held near record territory.
Starlink and Amazon Leo
Starlink pressed its direct to cell expansion, announcing service in Italy with Fastweb and Vodafone so standard phones can connect to its low Earth orbit satellites where terrestrial networks do not reach. Amazon Leo, the constellation formerly known as Project Kuiper, passed roughly 390 satellites after its early July launch and said it now has enough capacity to begin initial service later this year, though it is set to miss a July 30 FCC deployment milestone and is leaning on a granted extension. The bull and bear cases collided all week: MoffettNathanson, Morgan Stanley, and New Street all argued satellite capacity cannot crack dense urban wireless, while the constellations kept signing carrier deals and adding birds.
5Gstore Take
For businesses that need connectivity to just work, the takeaway this week is that satellite direct to device is real and advancing, but it is a complement to cellular and wired links, not a replacement, especially anywhere with real traffic. The smart move is a resilient multi path setup: a strong primary connection with automatic cellular failover, and satellite as a backstop for the truly remote sites. If you want help designing that, our team is happy to talk it through at 5Gstore contact, and you can browse current routers and gateways on the 5Gstore homepage.
We carry and support the full lineup of cellular and networking brands referenced above, including Peplink, Cradlepoint, Sierra Wireless and Semtech, Inseego, Digi, Teltonika, and Katalyst.
FAQ
Why did AST SpaceMobile fall so hard this week?
The company priced $1 billion in convertible notes to fund its network buildout. Convertibles can dilute existing shareholders, so the stock dropped about 25% even though the cash strengthens its balance sheet.
Is Starlink Direct to Cell going to replace my cell carrier?
Not in populated areas anytime soon. It is designed to fill coverage gaps where there is no terrestrial signal. Most analysts agree satellite capacity cannot match a cell tower in a busy city.
What is Amazon Leo?
It is Amazon’s low Earth orbit broadband constellation, formerly called Project Kuiper. It recently passed about 390 satellites and plans to begin initial service later in 2026.
Why is Iridium stock stuck near $54?
Iridium agreed to be acquired by Rocket Lab in a roughly $8 billion cash and stock deal valued near $54 per share, so the stock is trading close to that deal price.
Disclaimer
This post is informational market commentary and not investment advice. Prices reflect the latest available quotes as of the dates noted and may be approximate. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial professional before making investment decisions. External sources cited this week include CNBC and The Motley Fool.
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.
