This week in connectivity
The three big US carriers slipped again while satellite and network infrastructure names split. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile announced their joint satellite venture on October 1 with an interim CEO but no launch date, pricing or name, and all three finished the week lower. Cisco rallied on AI data center momentum, Semtech climbed to near its 52 week high, and SpaceX shares jumped almost 7% as EchoStar was upgraded on its implied SpaceX stake. Inseego bounced sharply from a low base, while Digi International, Ericsson and AST SpaceMobile gave back ground.
Performance table
Week over week compares the latest close with the September 25, 2026 close. Where a quote is older than October 2, the date is noted and the figure is approximate.
| Company | Latest Price | Weekly Change |
|---|---|---|
| US Carriers | ||
| AT&T (T) | $24.30 | down 4.3% |
| Verizon (VZ) | $45.92 | down 2.5% |
| T-Mobile (TMUS) | $162.04 | down 2.0% |
| Router & Equipment Makers | ||
| Ericsson (ERIC) | $9.29 | down 2.5% |
| Semtech (SMTC) | $194.88 | +6.9% |
| Digi International (DGII) | $73.39 (Oct 1) | down 6.3% |
| Netgear (NTGR) | $22.09 (Sep 25, latest available) | n/a this week |
| Inseego (INSG) | $4.37 (Oct 1) | +16.2% |
| Cisco (CSCO) | $112.20 | +5.2% |
| Plover Bay (1523.HK) | HK$7.56 (Sep 28) | about down 0.7% (approx.) |
| Satellite & Emerging | ||
| AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) | $58.45 | down 5.4% |
| Iridium (IRDM) | $48.96 | +0.4% |
| Globalstar (GSAT) | $83.21 (midday Oct 2, approx.) | about +0.4% (approx.) |
| EchoStar (ECHO) | $94.25 | +4.6% |
| Viasat (VSAT) | $70.35 (Oct 1) | down 3.7% |
| SpaceX (SPCX) | $158.96 | +6.9% |
Stories behind the moves
US Carriers. On October 1, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon formally announced their satellite joint venture, naming Paul Roth interim CEO. Per this report, the venture gives no launch date, pricing or company name, and existing deals such as T-Mobile’s Starlink based T-Satellite service continue. The group has been under pressure since SpaceX said it expects to win carrier customers with its own mobile service, as covered earlier this year.
Router & Equipment Makers. Cisco gained about 3% on Friday, helped by continued AI data center enthusiasm and its ex dividend date. Semtech, the parent of Sierra Wireless, closed Friday near $195 against a 52 week high around $202. Inseego rebounded roughly 19% on Thursday after the completed Nokia fixed wireless access acquisition and a new CTO hire, though it remains far below its 52 week high. Digi fell after announcing a $130 million deal to acquire Disruptive Technologies, and Ericsson drifted lower after a Morgan Stanley downgrade to Underweight citing North American prospects. We could not retrieve a current Netgear quote or a fresh Plover Bay quote, so those rows reflect the latest data found.
Satellite & Emerging. EchoStar rose on Friday after UBS upgraded it to Buy with a $150 target, pointing to a roughly 2% implied stake in SpaceX and spectrum monetization; EchoStar also announced a DISH OnStream deal to stream live sports on United Airlines aircraft. AST SpaceMobile pulled back despite progress: BlueBirds 14 to 16 are headed to Cape Canaveral, and production has reached BlueBird 50. Iridium and Globalstar were little changed, with Globalstar still tied to Amazon’s pending roughly $11.6 billion acquisition. Viasat slipped as it brought ViaSat-3 F2 and F3 into service and announced a partnership with Space42.
Starlink and Amazon Leo (news only). Starlink kept widening its partner footprint, with Globe in the Philippines expanding satellite roaming through KDDI and Starlink, and SpaceX has said it plans mobile service satellites in 2027 using spectrum acquired through EchoStar. Amazon Leo, formerly Project Kuiper, remains in deployment mode; the last count we published had more than 375 satellites in orbit, and the FCC has recently given it more leeway on its deployment schedule.
5Gstore Take
Satellite is moving from a backup story to a competitive one, but a carrier satellite venture with no launch date does not change what businesses need today: multi path connectivity that keeps sites online. Cellular, fixed wireless and satellite are increasingly complementary, so build redundancy across carriers and technologies rather than betting on one. Questions about the right router, modem or failover setup? Contact the 5Gstore team.
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You can also catch up on last week’s Market Watch.
FAQ
What is the carrier satellite joint venture?
AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon announced on October 1 a venture to provide satellite coverage where towers do not reach. It has an interim CEO but no launch date, pricing or name yet.
Why did EchoStar rise this week?
UBS upgraded the stock to Buy, citing an implied stake in SpaceX and the value of its spectrum.
Which tracked stocks moved most?
Inseego (+16.2%, as of October 1), SpaceX (+6.9%) and Semtech (+6.9%) led, while Digi International (down 6.3%) and AST SpaceMobile (down 5.4%) lagged.
Does this change my business connectivity plans?
Not immediately. Satellite options will keep maturing, but redundant cellular and fixed wireless remain the practical foundation for most sites today.
Disclaimer
This post is informational market commentary, not investment advice. Prices reflect the latest available quotes, and some are approximate or dated as noted above.
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.
