AT&T, AWS, and Amazon LEO Forge Strategic Partnership to Modernize U.S. Connectivity
February 5, 2026
In a significant move to reshape the digital infrastructure landscape, U.S. telecommunications giant AT&T has entered a multi-faceted partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Amazon's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite unit. This collaboration underscores the accelerating convergence of terrestrial networks, cloud computing, and space-based connectivity, aiming to create a more resilient and scalable national infrastructure. The agreement, announced this week, establishes a reciprocal technology and service exchange. AT&T will migrate a portion of its on-premises network workloads to AWS's hybrid cloud platform, AWS Outposts, utilizing AI tools like Amazon Q Developer to accelerate the transition.
This shift is designed to improve system resilience and modernization. In return, AWS will gain access to AT&T's extensive high-capacity fiber network to interconnect its data center locations. Concurrently, Amazon LEO will provide satellite internet connectivity services to AT&T, enabling the telco to deliver fixed broadband to business customers in underserved or remote areas. While the companies did not disclose the exact scale of the planned AWS Outposts deployment or the specifics of new fiber routes, the partnership's scope is substantial. Amazon's Project Kuiper constellation, which plans to launch over 3,200 satellites and has already placed more than 180 in orbit, is central to the connectivity aspect. The LEO service is slated to begin initial customer trials later this year. "This collaboration with AWS marks a pivotal step forward in shaping the future of connectivity in the United States," said Shawn Hakl, senior vice president of product at AT&T Business.
"Fiber is the foundation of that future... By pairing our expanding fiber infrastructure with AWS’s cloud capabilities... we’re creating a more resilient, scalable, and intelligent connectivity ecosystem." Jan Hofmeyr, vice president of telecommunications at AWS, added, "By combining AT&T's leadership in advanced fiber networking with AWS' cloud and AI capabilities, we're creating new opportunities to deliver innovative services to customers nationwide." The deal signals a strategic deepening of ties between major cloud and telecom providers. For AT&T, it accelerates its cloud modernization while expanding its service portfolio via satellite. For AWS, it secures critical fiber assets and embeds its cloud and AI services deeper into telecom network operations. The partnership also positions Amazon LEO as a formidable competitor in the satellite broadband market, leveraging AT&T's vast enterprise customer base for distribution.
Source: datacenterdynamics
